By Andy Sinykin
UW-River Falls Sports Information

As a senior at St. Anthony, Minn., High School, Molly McClanahan broke her leg. A year later as a freshman at the UW-River Falls McClanahan broke her leg again.

After two serious injuries many athletes would decide that it was time to give it up, but despite her mother’s wishes McClanahan recovered and came back for her sophomore season. "My mom was a little worried about me coming back to play…but not playing was never an option in my mind." McClanahan said.

Since breaking her leg as a freshman McClanahan has played all 90 minutes in almost every game. The last three seasons she has played as defensive midfield, but when teammate Jessie Olsen went down with a broken ankle earlier this year she moved to the stopper position.

"[Molly] provides experience at almost every position…she’s very versatile." Falcon Coach Sean McKuras said. Although she hasn’t received very many accolades in college soccer, McClanahan is very important to the team’s performance. As a defensive center midfielder and now as a stopper McClanahan is in the middle of the action, controlling much of the game.

Last year in the Falcons WIAC championship winning season, McClanahan was named co-captain. This season she has taken on the sole position of captain. "I take things harder when we don’t play well." McClanahan said, emphasizing that she is passionate about the team’s success. "[Molly] has been an effective leader both on and off the field." McKuras said.

McClanahan credits much of her success to her family. "My Mom and Dad have been huge supporters," she said. "They have only missed a few games and one of them was for my sister’s wedding." McClanahan also gives credit to her oldest sister who played college soccer at Hamline University. "Going to her games with my Mom and Dad reinforced me wanting to play at the college level."

In high school McClanahan earned numerous awards and achievements, the list includes: all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior; academic all-conference senior year; and captain senior year. She also earned the Athena Award as a senior. As well as playing soccer, McClanahan played softball and basketball in high school.

Academically McClanahan is majoring in elementary education with a minor in health. Like most college seniors she is unsure what she will be doing after she graduates. "I’d like to teach, I don’t know where. I’m really looking at first or second grade, somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota."

During the winter McClanahan coaches girls basketball at St. Bridget’s in River Falls. Last year she coached eighth graders, but this year she will probably be coaching fifth or sixth.

As far as playing soccer after college McClanahan was pretty sure it was time to give it up and change her focus. "I’ll turn my focus more towards coaching. I’ve had too many injuries to keep playing," Without missing a breath the resilience to continue playing eked out, "but who knows, next summer, I might keep playing. I might miss it."