Her older brother was an all-league hockey player, golfer and baseball player. Her younger sister was a three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and softball.
She reserves her greatest affection for her little brother.
“My little brother is a mad athlete,” McAuliffe says. “He is a ridiculous golfer, hockey, soccer, and baseball player. You name it, he excels in it, pretty much.”
Her father, Joe, was the MVP of the 1971 Merrimack college men’s hockey team and played other sports throughout his life, including baseball.
In addition to her family members, McAulliffe’s neighborhood of North Reading, MA, boasts a number of collegiate stars as well. Several of her neighbors have gone on to play college hockey at the varsity level.
“My neighborhood is huge into hockey,” she says. “We would come home everyday and play either street hockey, roller hockey, or pond hockey. It was just meant to be. I mean, considering the kids in my neighborhood, there are so many playing in college.”
“It’s what we did; it’s all we had to do really,” McAuliffe added. “It’s a pretty small town.”
McAuliffe views her style of play, whether on the ice or the field, as gritty.
“My entire family plays sports in the same fashion,” she says. “We all just work hard. I know I’m not the most skilled player, but I’m a scrapper.”
McAuliffe does not keep secret her desire to lead by example.
“In hockey, I am not the fast skater, and I don’t have the hardest shot,” she says. “I just try as hard as I can, as much as I can, and just try to play my role.”
McAuliffe has done just that in the past, and excelled at every position, whether it was third-line center or first-line wing.
“Sometimes my role isn’t the most glorious position, but it’s really important to the team,” McAuliffe says. “But I love being able to play that role and to do the best that I can, contributing to my team in any way I can.”
If actions speak louder than words, then McAuliffe’s unrelenting persistence to earn a spot on the Harvard varsity softball team is telling. Her actions have won the admiration and respect of her coaches and teammates. Now Harvard softball will reap the benefits of her presence this season.