Star Lacrosse Player’s Pursues Entrepreneurship, Extends Time With the Orange

After playing for Team USA in the 2022 World Games, Meaghan Tyrrell ’22 (NEW), ’23 M.S. was named preseason player of the year in women's lacrosse by the NCAA. Tyrrell is a graduate student studying entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises (EEE) at Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Staying at Syracuse University for another year not only allows her to earn a graduate degree but also allows Tyrell to use her remaining year of eligibility to continue to play lacrosse for the Orange. 

Tyrrell started playing lacrosse in middle school and later fell in love with Syracuse University and its lacrosse team while touring colleges. As an undergrad, Tyrrell studied public relations at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and minored in marketing at Whitman. However, when the pandemic took away a season, Tyrrell had a choice to make. 

“The NCAA gave us back a season, and one of my previous teammates did a grad year in EEE. She later created her own lacrosse training company, which is something I could see myself pursuing. I think earning a graduate degree at Whitman has been the right choice for me,” Tyrrell says.

As lacrosse becomes more popular around the world, Tyrrell is proud to have represented Team USA, which brought home a silver medal, in the World Games. She believes some of the skills learned on the field can be incorporated into her graduate studies.

“The on-field experience of elite athletes like Meaghan translates well to entrepreneurial education,” says John Torrens G’93 (SOE), deputy department chair of EEE and professor of entrepreneurial practice. “For example, athletes at that level are conditioned to move on from a lost game or bad play by learning quickly from their mistakes without dwelling on them to the point where they affect their next play. This ‘short memory’ also helps deal with setbacks and move forward, which is a key competency for entrepreneurs.” 

While Tyrrell is interested in playing for the Athletes UnLimited professional league after she completes her master’s degree in EEE, but she is also applying for jobs. Like any good athlete or entrepreneur, she is ready for whatever comes next.

By Rylee Pohancsek ’24