As the Radford University women’s lacrosse program enters its seventh season, Grace and Margaret Gleason own nearly eight percent of the recorded career offensive records.
The two sisters both rank in the top 10 in career points and shots. Grace holds spots in the top 10 for career goals, draw controls, free position goals, and man-up goals. Margaret ranks number five in career assists, and her 15 assists in 2021 is the sixth-highest total in school history.
When the Gleason sisters were asked about these accomplishments, though, it was clear that while the stats are great and can help to inform the story of two sisters whose bond extends onto the field, it is far from the whole story.
The story of the Gleason sisters is, in a way, the story of the Radford Highlander lacrosse program: It’s a family thing.
The Gleason sisters grew up in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tenn., and played their high school lacrosse at Ravenwood High School. For them, sports – and success in sports – runs in the family. Five Gleason siblings play or have played college sports: their sister Nicole played lacrosse at Marquette and their brothers Kevin and Jack played lacrosse at Augustana and football at the Air Force Academy, respectively. Their dad, Kevin, played football at Southern Illinois University. Kevin often jokes with his sisters about the perceived physicality of the women’s game, knowing full well that women’s lacrosse is just as, if not more, physically taxing, fast-paced, and exciting as the men’s game.
The Gleason sisters’ connection to Radford began with their time in high school. Grace’s best friend in high school was fellow Radford lacrosse standout Katie Bendrick. That trio was preceded at Radford by another former Ravenwood teammate, Megan Hawken, who started 60 games for the Highlanders – fifth most in program history – from 2017-2020.
The 2021 Radford Women’s Lacrosse season was a landmark one. For the first time ever, the Highlanders not only had a winning record in conference play at 4-2 but went to the Big South Tournament as the three –seed and knocked off the number-two seeded Campbell Camels, 15-14. The win was the first in program history over Campbell and gave the Highlanders a chance to play for a Big South title against perennial-favorite High Point (who has won six of eight contested conference tournaments).
The Hollywood version of this tale includes a miraculous, triumphant upset victory for the underdog. But this isn’t Hollywood and losing to a program like High Point does not make a season a failure. Quite the contrary, for two big reasons.
First, that Radford was even in the game was nothing short of extraordinary. For a program in its sixth year of existence to show that growth and make it to that moment is a testament to the character of the players and coaches who got it there.
Second, that’s not where this story ends.
When Grace and Margaret were asked what’s next for Radford and where this program can go from here, they didn’t hesitate.
“The conference championship game, again,” Grace said.
Margaret said, “We know the feeling of being at the bottom because when we were 0-9, we didn’t think we were going to make the conference championship, but also going and beating Campbell by one, that was one of the best moments in our program ever, so we know what it’s like to be on top as well.”
Getting back to the Big South title game would in all likelihood involve another date with High Point. As Margaret says, “It helps us build as a team. Our schedule is tough, but at the end of the day, it makes our team more competitive, and I think it makes our team closer, too.”
Margaret said that while the 2022 squad is very young, that doesn’t mean they don’t get along or that upperclassmen and underclassmen won’t be friends. “The culture of being close with everyone, having the same respect for everyone, being weird – our team is so weird, and that’s what makes our team so close – is that we can be like that with each other because everyone will be so comfortable with each other.”
Grace said, “We win together, we lose together, and no matter what we do it together.”
