Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
A two-sport star in lacrosse and soccer, Meghan Welch '00 proved to be one of the most talented and versatile athletes to have worn a Camel uniform.
A four-year starter on attack for the women’s lacrosse team, Welch graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 180 goals and 235 points, and she ranked second all-time in career assists with 55. Welch earned several accolades in both her junior and senior seasons, including team Most Valuable Player, All-NESCAC, Regional All-America, and IWLCA All-America Second Team. As a senior team captain, she helped lead the Camels to a 10-6 record and the 2000 ECAC New England Championship, where she was honored as the tournament’s MVP.
On the women’s soccer field, Welch was a four-year starter at center midfield. In her sophomore season, she was recognized with the team’s Unsung Hero Award as she helped the Camels advance to the ECAC Tournament semifinals. The women’s soccer program reached its pinnacle in Welch’s junior year with an appearance in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, where the Camels advanced to the Elite Eight round and finished the season ranked eighth in the final NSCAA national poll.
In pacing the Camels to a four-year mark of 33-25-8, Welch garnered several honors in both of her final two seasons: team MVP, All-NESCAC, and NSCAA All-New England. A team captain as a senior, she completed her soccer career ranked among the school’s all-time top five scorers in goals (22, ranked third), assists (18, fifth), and points (52, fourth).
At the conclusion of her athletic career, Welch received the Athletic Department’s Anita DeFrantz ‘74 Award as the outstanding female senior athlete. She also was recognized in Sports Illustrated’s coveted “Faces in the Crowd” section.
Welch has stayed active post-college in team sports and individual fitness activities. Soon after graduation, she was selected to play semi-professional soccer with the Northern Virginia Majestics, a franchise of the W-league. She then played on the pitch for the Washington Area Women’s Soccer Association (2000-2005) and Azzurri Soccer Club (2005-2009).
Welch also has continued playing on the lacrosse field, first with the Boston Women’s Lacrosse Club, and currently as an eight-year veteran for the Capital Lacrosse Club. In addition to participating in local level triathlons, she ran the 2008 Boston Marathon.
