Mary Cronin, forever remembered by the STU soccer family
The St. Thomas University (STU) women’s soccer team is a squad that dedicates its time to giving back to their community. They host a match every season to honour the memory of a former goalkeeper and captain, Mary Cronin.
Cronin played with the Tommies for three seasons. Coming to the team right out of high school, she established herself as a leader on and off the field. Cronin was the team’s captain. She helped lead the squad to an undefeated regular season in 2017.
STU earned an Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Championship and a berth at Nationals that same year.
Cronin passed away in 2022 from a sudden pulmonary embolism. Today, the team remembers her with a tree outside Grant Harvey Turf Field. She also has a leadership award in her name.
Maggie Cronin is Mary’s cousin. Born four weeks apart, she and Cronin were “basically inseparable” for most of their lives.
Maggie wants people to know that Mary was “much more than a soccer player.”
Instead, she wants people to remember her as a special person, someone who stood up for everyone and what was right."
At the same time, having the game every year means a lot to Maggie and her family.
“I love it. Our whole family loves it,” she said. “Getting to go to the game and seeing all of the girls who didn't know her, but they get to know of her and play to honour her. It's really special because I think her legacy is really important.”
STU has hosted the Mary Cronin Memorial Game since 2022. This year’s event took place on Oct. 4 at the Grant Harvey Turf Field. Before kickoff, both teams came together for a moment of silence. Players also sold baked goods in support of the Mary Cronin Leadership Award.
Maggie tries to attend the game each year. She was joined by Mary’s parents, as well as her brother, aunts, uncles and other close friends.
She believes having the event “helps reach new people” and lets them know about her cousin’s life and legacy.
Maggie’s personal favourite way to honour her cousin is the tree.
“I love the tree. It's going to be there for so long. And there's a plaque below it now. So, people can visit it and say, ‘oh, this is for her.’ And that's so special,” said Maggie. “[Mary] loved attention. So, she would appreciate that everyone is still thinking of her and honoring her in that way.”
“Her life was cut short, but her memory should live on,” she said.
Maggie felt this year’s game meant a little bit more. One of Mary’s former teammates and close friends, Rhys Dixon, took part in the match.
Dixon is a fifth-year central midfielder for the Tommies. She played with Mary for two seasons.
“Rhys … got to see how she really was and got to be under her leadership,” Maggie said. “It was so special to have her friend out there honouring her.”
Dixon described playing in the Mary Cronin Memorial game as “tough.” She had never taken part in any of the past games, as Mary had passed away after she was finished at STU.
Dixon found the strength knowing she was playing for something bigger than herself.
“It was really great to be able to represent her, especially being somebody who knew her,” said Dixon. “Seeing her family out there and just knowing that they knew I knew her and we were there for her and them, it was a special moment … I was very emotional.”
Dixon met Mary when she was 10 years old. The pair played on the same middle school soccer team. From there, what resulted was a lasting friendship.
Dixon credited Mary with making her feel comfortable when she started playing for the Tommies. Cronin’s actions made her feel like she “had a place on the team."
Cronin is remembered as being “incredibly fierce.” Every time Dixon thinks of Mary, she thinks of her laugh. It was something that filled a room.“She always had her teammates’ back, always hyped people up when they needed it,” she said. “She always knew what role to play and what people needed at that moment.”“She was just always doing silly things, making people happy and smile and laugh, living life to the absolute fullest and not taking it too seriously."
Dixon wants the ceremonial game to keep going forever. She feels the game represents how STU appreciates everything Mary gave to the community and the soccer program.
“For STU to pursue and appreciate the legacy that she left behind is really special for her family, her friends and everybody who knew her,” she said.
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