Q&A with Mackenzie Baker

As we prepare for our home opener against Stony Brook in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Feb. 27 (10 am., ACC Network Extra), we start our Q&A series to help you get to know the Orange starting with senior attacker Mackenzie Baker.

How does it feel to be voted a team captain?"Amazing. I am so excited to be a leader on this team. We have so many people that definitely step up and take on that leadership role too, but to be named a captain and be voted (captain) by the rest of the team is an indescribable feeling. I am so grateful for it."

Your season was cut short last year. How did it feel to be back out there last Saturday? "It was crazy. It was almost a whole year so to be back all together – because we've been able to be in pods and things like that, but to be all together on the field again and know that the end of the week was going to be a big game against a top-five team – it was thrilling. It was crazy to experience it again after not having it for so long."

Does it make you appreciate it more?
"Definitely. When we got sent into quarantine, we thought 'this will be two weeks, we'll go home, come back'. But little did we know what was actually going to happen. So now we don't know – this season is going to be so uncertain – we just have to take it everyday like it could be our last. We definitely have a new appreciation for the game, for our team, and for everybody."

You're a local player. Were you a Syracuse fan growing up and why did you choose to come to Syracuse?
"I definitely was a Syracuse fan. Like they say 'bleed orange" — in the Syracuse community it's a real thing. It was my dream to come to Syracuse, playing in the Dome. I luckily got to live out my dream and it all worked out."

Is there a reason you wear #5?
"It was a new number for me. In high school I wore number 8 and Alexa Radziewicz had it when I was a freshman and she was a junior. So I told myself 'you know what? I'm going to pick a new number, make a new name for myself with the new number'. It was sad not to have the same number but I was ready to take on a new role, a new number, and be a new player and a new version of myself – so I was happy with it."

Favorite class at SU?
"I love all my classes in my major (communication sciences and disorders). Those are all super interesting. But when I was a little uncertain about things, I took a nutrition class because obviously I am all into fitness, nutrition and all that. So probably nutrition was one of my favorite classes."

Go-to pregame meal?
"I love the caramel rice cake with peanut butter and banana on it – it's my favorite."

Go-to road trip bus snack?
"The Reese's peanut butter cup. I know it's not healthy, but I love them. After every meal I have to grab a couple."

Who is best dressed on the team?
"We have a couple. Swag-wise, I would definitely say Asa Goldstock. She always looks super cool."

Who is best cook on the team?
There are several people who love to cook but in my house, Grace Fahey loves to cook and she is always making a bunch of cool things and she is like the mom of the house."

Which teammate is most likely to have a breakout season?
"I think we have a bunch of people who could have a breakout season. I'm really excited for – I'm excited for a ton of people — but I'm really excited for Emma Ward. I feel like she can definitely step up into the role that she has been working for so hard during practice. And she is such a good player with a ton of confidence. And obviously coming in as a freshman, maybe her name is not super known yet so I'm excited for her. I think she can do a lot for us this year and in the years to come."

Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Baker

Grace Fahey

Asa Goldstock

Alexa Radziewicz

Emma Ward

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