Mallory Tyler: Team First
10/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 20, 2015 
By Kacy Kobakof, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Whether on or off of the field, senior forward Mallory Tyler is a person who loyally puts her teammates first.
Tyler strives to accomplish the goals she has along with the goals of the team. Whether it's sacrificing her body in the final minutes of a game to assist that game winning goal, or spending time with teammates outside of field hockey, Tyler gives endless amounts of time and effort to the Spartan program.
"Team is first," said Tyler. "You can't really accomplish much in life without working with people and working together. There's such an importance in communication and working towards mutual goals with a group of people."
There is a Spartan bond within the MSU field hockey program that will never be broken, and with senior leaders like Tyler, the traditions carry on.
"I've definitely improved, but that's a reflection of my teammates and my coaches, all the ones that I've had throughout my career," said Tyler.
Since her youngest days, Tyler has been raised around the game.
"My mom played field hockey in college," Tyler said. "She started coaching our YMCA team in the second grade, and she was the one who really got me going."
Years later, the dedication to the game had only grown stronger, and the results were becoming more and more evident.
"I just wanted to grow to be the best player that I could be and develop my skills and be a part of an elite program," Tyler said.
Named first-team All-State all four years of her high school career, Tyler earned the title of Miss Field Hockey in the state of Kentucky. The Louisville, Kentucky native scored 109 goals in her high school career, which is something to celebrate. But, her story as an athlete was just beginning.
"I wanted a change in college, and I was ready to meet new people and carve my own path," she said. "No one from my high school had ever come here, so I thought it was a pretty big change. I thought, you know what, I'm just going to do my thing."
As a freshman, Tyler played all 20 games in the Green and White, posting an assist on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Ohio State and added an assist in the Spartans' 3-1 win over Maine.
"The competition, I love," Tyler said. "Going out there and playing to win a game is the best feeling ever."
During her sophomore season, Tyler appeared in all 24 games for Michigan State. She finished the season with four goals and one assist, including her first collegiate goal against Ohio State.
Not only did she have a tenacious presence on the field, but she scored in the classroom, too. Tyler finished her sophomore year as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as well as Academic All-Big Ten.
Her list of accomplishments is ever-growing, but favorite moment in her four years at Michigan State came from her junior season.
"It was definitely winning the Big Ten Tournament my sophomore year," said Tyler. "It was the coolest feeling in the world."
As junior year rolled around, Tyler appeared in 13 games and once again was named Academic All-Big Ten.
Thus far in her senior year, Tyler has scored four goals and tallied five assists, adding 13 points for the Spartans. She has played all 16 games, proving her worth each time she steps foot on the field.
"My proudest moment over the years was going to the Elite Eight and beating Syracuse at home," Tyler said. "They were ranked second in the country and had a 45 home game winning streak. We were the underdogs by far. Going in there and beating them was probably the best feeling in the world. Just to say, ‘hey we can do this, and this is what a team can do.'"
Playing field hockey for Michigan State has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Tyler in multiple ways.
"I'm going to miss all the girls and being able to play the sport that I love on such a high level," said Tyler. "I couldn't imagine not being a part of the team."
Accomplishing goals and growing great amounts as a person through her experience as a Spartan, Tyler is grateful.
Continuing the standard set within Spartan field hockey is something she prides herself on, and, in four years, the game and the program have impacted her just as much as she has impacted them.
"Everyone has had such a great, positive influence on me," said Tyler. "I have 40 best friends that I will know for the rest of my life and will be able to stay in touch with outside of school. When we graduate, we'll still be close."
By Kacy Kobakof, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Whether on or off of the field, senior forward Mallory Tyler is a person who loyally puts her teammates first.
Tyler strives to accomplish the goals she has along with the goals of the team. Whether it's sacrificing her body in the final minutes of a game to assist that game winning goal, or spending time with teammates outside of field hockey, Tyler gives endless amounts of time and effort to the Spartan program.
"Team is first," said Tyler. "You can't really accomplish much in life without working with people and working together. There's such an importance in communication and working towards mutual goals with a group of people."
There is a Spartan bond within the MSU field hockey program that will never be broken, and with senior leaders like Tyler, the traditions carry on.
"I've definitely improved, but that's a reflection of my teammates and my coaches, all the ones that I've had throughout my career," said Tyler.
Since her youngest days, Tyler has been raised around the game.
"My mom played field hockey in college," Tyler said. "She started coaching our YMCA team in the second grade, and she was the one who really got me going."
Years later, the dedication to the game had only grown stronger, and the results were becoming more and more evident.
"I just wanted to grow to be the best player that I could be and develop my skills and be a part of an elite program," Tyler said.
Named first-team All-State all four years of her high school career, Tyler earned the title of Miss Field Hockey in the state of Kentucky. The Louisville, Kentucky native scored 109 goals in her high school career, which is something to celebrate. But, her story as an athlete was just beginning.
"I wanted a change in college, and I was ready to meet new people and carve my own path," she said. "No one from my high school had ever come here, so I thought it was a pretty big change. I thought, you know what, I'm just going to do my thing."
As a freshman, Tyler played all 20 games in the Green and White, posting an assist on the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Ohio State and added an assist in the Spartans' 3-1 win over Maine.
"The competition, I love," Tyler said. "Going out there and playing to win a game is the best feeling ever."
During her sophomore season, Tyler appeared in all 24 games for Michigan State. She finished the season with four goals and one assist, including her first collegiate goal against Ohio State.
Not only did she have a tenacious presence on the field, but she scored in the classroom, too. Tyler finished her sophomore year as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as well as Academic All-Big Ten.
Her list of accomplishments is ever-growing, but favorite moment in her four years at Michigan State came from her junior season.
"It was definitely winning the Big Ten Tournament my sophomore year," said Tyler. "It was the coolest feeling in the world."
As junior year rolled around, Tyler appeared in 13 games and once again was named Academic All-Big Ten.
Thus far in her senior year, Tyler has scored four goals and tallied five assists, adding 13 points for the Spartans. She has played all 16 games, proving her worth each time she steps foot on the field.
"My proudest moment over the years was going to the Elite Eight and beating Syracuse at home," Tyler said. "They were ranked second in the country and had a 45 home game winning streak. We were the underdogs by far. Going in there and beating them was probably the best feeling in the world. Just to say, ‘hey we can do this, and this is what a team can do.'"
Playing field hockey for Michigan State has been an incredibly rewarding experience for Tyler in multiple ways.
"I'm going to miss all the girls and being able to play the sport that I love on such a high level," said Tyler. "I couldn't imagine not being a part of the team."
Accomplishing goals and growing great amounts as a person through her experience as a Spartan, Tyler is grateful.
Continuing the standard set within Spartan field hockey is something she prides herself on, and, in four years, the game and the program have impacted her just as much as she has impacted them.
"Everyone has had such a great, positive influence on me," said Tyler. "I have 40 best friends that I will know for the rest of my life and will be able to stay in touch with outside of school. When we graduate, we'll still be close."
Players Mentioned
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