McMillin sets national scoring record

By MICKEY ALVARADO

After scoring her 130th goal of the season and breaking the national record for goals scored in a season on Friday, May 14, Tecumseh varsity girls lacrosse co-captain Autumn McMillin dropped to the artificial turf and let her happy tears fly.

The Tecumseh senior went on to add four additional goals against University Liggitt to help the Indians win 15-10 and set the National High School Sports Record Book listing to 134 goals. It was previously 129.

“This was a victory to remember,” said Tecumseh coach Cindy Hill. “I think Autumn had this in mind back in the seventh grade when she started playing. She worked hard pursuing her dream and I'm glad it all came together for her.”

McMillin scored the national record-setting goal with just 2:26 remaining in the match.
“We had to take a time out to celebrate,” said Hill. “The kids stormed the field. The officials were great, it was the longest time out we have ever had!"

The previous record for girls lacrosse was set in 2006 with 129 goals scored by Shannon Smith of West Babylon, N.Y.

“When I made it I was like, ‘Oh man,’ instant drop to the ground, pretty much crying,” said McMillin about scoring the record goal. “I really wanted it so I drove myself to get it.”

It took McMillin 17 matches to accumulate the 130 goals for the national record. She raised the national record to 146 after scoring 12 more at Saline on Thursday, May 20, with Tecumseh winning 23-13.

Her mother and father, Angela and Ralph, were just as happy as their daughter. Ralph is the team’s assistant coach.

“Her record last year was 97,” said Ralph, “and when she got to 100 she still had a heck of a lot of season left. So, she’s like if I can get 100, I know the other one is 129, let’s go for that. Well, now she’s trying to put it out of reach.”

McMillin was already in the record book for scoring 97 goals in 2009. She surpassed Jessie Manwaring’s school record of 54 goals that season. McMillin was also listed in the most goals scored in a single game with 11, recorded during the 2009 season but surpassed that this season by scoring 14 goals in a single game. The goals matched Katie Farrell’s (Fayetteville Whitewater, GA.)  14 recorded in 2009.  The two are currently tied for second in the category.  Fifteen goals was the highest number of goals ever recorded in a single game.

McMillin was recruited by Indiana Tech earlier in the season and she signed a national letter of intent to become Tecumseh’s first lacrosse player to receive a scholarship to play for a college team.

Her father is comfortable she’ll be in the right hands when she leaves Tecumseh. He said that Ed Karasek, the coach at Indiana Tech, would take over where he left off while he takes over another role.

“The thing that’s going to be cool for me now is I can become the parent and be able to go and watch the game instead of coaching her,” said Ralph.

“We’re very proud of her,” said Angela.

Autumn scored 10 goals in the record-setting match while teammate Lora Kasik netted two. Adding a goal each for the Indians were Jacki Bauer, Kellie Smalt and Jessie Anders.  
Nicole Palm had ten saves in goal for Tecumseh while Heather Major had seven takeaways.  Gabby Flores had six takeaways while Katelynne Silvernail and McMillin each added two.

In its final regular season game over Saline, Tecumseh had several other players score including Lora Kasik with three goals, Kellie Smalt, Anne Mammel and Brianne Snider, with two goals each and Heather Major and Jesse Anders, with one goal each.  
McMillin also helped with three assists while Silvernail had two. Silvernail also had a strong defensive showing with four takeaways.  

Palm was in goal for the Indians and she fell just one short of her season record last year of 17 saves in a game. She tallied 16 in the victory.

Tecumseh's record currently stands at 10-1-7 overall. The Indians were to travel to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard on Wednesday to begin district playoffs. Results will be reported in next week’s Tecumseh Herald.