Byrnes, Goslee are first two lacrosse players in Marquette Hall of Fame
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Sunday Jan. 23, Marquette's latest M Club Hall of Fame Class will be headlined by former basketball coach Tom Crean. The six other inductees include men's basketball player Dominic James, men's soccer players Charlie Lyon and Axel Sjöberg, women's soccer player Ally Miller, women's lacrosse player Elizabeth Goslee, and men's lacrosse player Liam Byrnes.
Byrnes and Goslee will be the first two lacrosse players in the school's hall of fame.
"It's a huge milestone, obviously, for lacrosse," said Elizabeth Goslee, a Marquette lacrosse defender from 2013-2016. "I think it's an award and an honor that means more than just Liam and me."
"It's like the pinnacle of what you can hope for as a college athlete. Being enshrined in your school's hall of fame," said Liam Byrnes.
In 2010, Marquette added both men's and women's lacrosse as varsity sports. Liam Byrnes and Elizabeth Goslee were two members of the inaugural teams. The Golden Eagles played their first official games in 2013.
"Those teams, starting a varsity program, winning and losing a lot, you go through a lot together," said Goslee.
Byrnes credited Marquette's initial coach, Joe Amplo, and early captains like Andrew Smistad, with establishing the team's mindset early.
"This is our group. We have five years together, you can build a lot in five years," said Byrnes, on how the team approached starting a new program.
Byrnes left Marquette and is still the all-time leader in ground balls and caused turnovers with 218 and 102, respectively. He remembers practicing in a hockey rink early on as a freshman. But still he and the initial class won a Big East title and made the NCAA tournament with a 10-9 win over Denver.
"Surreal feeling. I remember looking at all the defenders kinda in shock, like 'what did we just do'," said Byrnes.
Goslee was an all-conference player three times, ranking second in career caused turnovers with 88. She even made the US national team in the summer of 2014.
"I feel like I was very lucky and blessed. And I feel like I have all my teammates to credit for all my accomplishments for sure, and coach (Meredith) Black," said Goslee.
Both Liam and Elizabeth now coach high school lacrosse, Byrnes in Atlanta and Goslee in her hometown of Cincinnati. Byrnes currently also plays professionally in the National Lacrosse League and Premiere Lacrosse League. Wherever they go, they will always have a home inside the Al McGuire Center amongst other Golden Eagles greats like Dwyane Wade, Doc Rivers and more.
"A very successful and accomplished group of individuals. So just being a part of that, as well as the inductee class that I'm in, the other six people, huge congratulations to everybody," said Goslee.
"Permanent part of Marquette Lacrosse now forever," said Byrnes. "Being in the hall of fame is very humbling, I'm very appreciative of it. Something that I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
The seven-member class will also be introduced at halftime of the Marquette men's basketball game against Xavier on the Jan. 23.