For most hockey players, “switching it up” refers to a line change on the ice. But the phrase takes on a whole new meaning for junior Lauren McAuliffe this spring as she makes the transition from women’s hockey to softball.

McAuliffe, who played with the softball junior varsity squad for two years, got the call up after Harvard coach Jenny Allard was won over by her work ethic and persistence.

DREAMS OF FIELD

Though she has always had a lingering desire to try a sport other than hockey, McAuliffe can point to a specific day in March 2001—during her first year at Harvard—as the moment that started her spring sport odyssey.

The Crimson had just returned from a bittersweet campaign at the NCAA Frozen Four, where it lost to eventual champion Minnesota-Duluth before defeating rival Dartmouth 3-2 in the consolation game. McAuliffe assisted on the game-winning goal, but she found no consolation after the win.

“I remember freshman year, the first day we came back from nationals,” McAuliffe says. “It was the first day without hockey and I didn’t know what to do. I resorted to shopping in the Square, which is something I never ever do.”

The problem, as she recalls, was a feeling of withdrawal from athletics.

“I just missed it,” McAuliffe says. “I feel like sometimes when you focus so much on one sport, you lose an aspect of athleticism. You might improve in that one sport, but then, it’s good to do different kind of athletics.”

That same spring, McAuliffe decided to take up another sport, joining the JV softball team.

Balancing Act

McAuliffe’s desire to play softball should be no surprise to anyone who knows about her high school sports. At North Reading, McAuliffe played softball and hockey for four years, soccer for three years and volleyball freshman year. She captained both the soccer and the softball teams, the latter of which she led to a state championship in her junior year.

“[McAuliffe] has never let us forget that her high school softball team was state champs her senior year,” says Harvard women’s hockey captain Jamie Hagerman. “And if you ever drive into North Reading, you will see the sign, ‘Home of the 1999 State Softball Champs.’ She led that team to victory and if given the chance, she could do the same for Harvard.”

The Harvard JV softball team has been in existence for as long as Harvard has had a varsity squad. Like all JV squads, the team’s low-key nature greatly reduces the amount of fanfare and attention it receives.

Starting training and practices in mid-spring, the team plays a limited schedule against community colleges, prep schools and other schools with JV teams.

During her sophomore year, McAuliffe decided to go for the big-time and try out for the varsity squad.