Two all-time seasons at same time for Marquette lacrosse

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Growing up in a lacrosse family in Massachusetts, Bobby O'Grady knew nothing about Milwaukee before coming to Marquette other than the Brewers and the Bucks. But on his visit, he could tell it was a place that cared about the person as much as the athlete.

From a little bit closer, Meg Bireley came to Marquette from Illinois.

Now, the two seniors have done things no other Golden Eagles player has ever done in the sport.

"It's been a really great journey. When I think back to myself my freshman year to now, I never imagined I would really be in this position," said Bireley, MU women's lacrosse senior attack.

"My goal coming in was just to help the team in any way I could whether that was on the field or off the field," said O'Grady, MU men's lacrosse senior attack.

This season, both players became the all-time leaders in points for their respective programs. They also lead the schools in goals scored.

"Any sort of milestones like that are so great for us individually and then when you do them together, that's pretty cool," said Meredith Black, Marquette women's lacrosse coach.

"These are two athletes who are supremely talented who decided to stick by their programs and value leaving a legacy," said Jake Richard, Marquette men's lacrosse coach.

O'Grady set a single season scoring record his freshman season with 45 goals. Now, with two games left in the regular season, his 138 goals and 169 points are the top all-time for the program. For him, it's all a bonus.

"The only thing I really focus on is the game and how we can win a game if I get a record, or I score a couple goals. It's second to winning games and helping out the team," said O'Grady.

"When you see the offense and the fact that we have 4 or 5 guys over 25 points, it's because he's set the tone to play unselfish offense," said Richard. "He's been a rock for us."

Bireley did not start at all in her freshman season but scored 31 goals and becomes the first player in Golden Eagles to score at least 200 goals with 201 this season and has 252 points.

"She's an extremely smart player and has been able to grow so much since she's been here," said Black.

"I never imagined I would get here myself, but when I think about the teammates that I have, they really made this possible for me," said Bireley.

Both players set their program records within weeks of each other in March.

"I'm really happy for him. Ever since he stepped on campus he was really great player," said Bireley. "He had an amazing freshman season and ever since then he's kept going."

"She's a beast over there. I see the numbers and I feel like I've done nothing compared to her," said O'Grady. "Anytime I see her I just say she's the best lacrosse player in Marquette lacrosse history -- both genders -- she's killing it for sure."

Both programs have only been in existence since 2013, but both players respect the history of lacrosse at Marquette. Bireley passed former teammates on her rise up the leaderboard in both categories.

"Really lucky to play with some great offensive players, probably some of the best players our program has ever had like Shea Garcia, Mary Schumar, Lydia Faust ... They were so amazing, and when I was a freshman, I looked so much up to them," said Birely. "I knew when I was younger, I wanted to be just like them."

O'Grady moved ahead of some of the first players to ever wear the Golden Eagles uniform and teammates of his current coach and former player.

"When they watch him play, they can really relate to the fire and the chip on the shoulder that Bobby carries. He is really a throwback Marquette lacrosse player in a lot of ways," said Richard.

"They built the foundation for what this program was and doing everything we can to make them proud. On the field. Off the field. They set a really good standard for us and we're just trying to uphold that," said O'Grady.

With that in mind, both players have their eyes on the NCAA tournament. The men have made the national tournament in 2016 and 2017. The women's team made it's first tournament in 2023.

First, both teams need to make the Big East tournament. The men (6-5) take on Villanova (April 19) on the road and Denver (April 25) at home. The women (9-5) head to Georgetown (April 19) and to Eastern Michigan (April 25).