Senior Spotlight: #21 Megan Rafac
11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Kacy Kobakof, MSU Athletic Communication Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Michigan - The move from Toledo, Ohio to East Lansing, Michigan to play soccer for the Spartans was one of the most impactful decisions senior defender Megan Rafac has made. These last four years of her life in the Green and White have been nothing but special.
"It's been a dream of mine since I was little to be a Spartan," said Rafac. "To be able to wear the jersey is just really something. Coming from a small town, and a small little high school, it's been awesome to be able to represent Michigan State."
Graduating from St. Ursula Academy, Rafac finished both her junior and senior year high school seasons being named first team All-District and All-State selections. She brought that hard-work mentality with her to East Lansing.
As her freshman season as a Spartan quickly approached, Rafac looked forward to becoming one with the team. Her relationships grew stronger as the days passed.
"I really just wanted to learn a lot from the older girls, once you get to college it's a whole different level to absorb. I loved learning from them, and it was just amazing to be a part of the team," Rafac said. "I became really close with my class in general when I first got to Michigan State. Now, I'm close with everyone on the team, we've kind of grown up together. It's cool to see how those relationships formed and have grown."
It was her relationships on the team that impacted Rafac over her years at MSU, but her relationship with her family that has impacted her as a person. To have a constant support system means more to Rafac than anything.
"My parents are up here all the time," she explained. "It's convenient that we're huge Spartan fans anyways, so it's been a really good experience getting to come here. My parents come to almost every game, same with my siblings. They love it."
Not only are her parents constantly supporting the team, they are constantly supporting her.
"Oh, my parents are by far my biggest fans. Doesn't everyone say that? They cheer for everyone and anything, and the moment they can cheer for me, they go crazy. They're with me every step of the way."
Sophomore season proved to be one of learning for Rafac. She took advice from head coach Tom Saxton, who constantly would talk to her about the process of playing Division I soccer.
"He would always say, trust the process. Go step by step. I really think when I look back, I've trusted the process. I've grown so much as a player over the years. You wouldn't think it season by season, but looking back over these past four years, I've definitely grown and improved as a player."
The process proved beneficial to Rafac's growth. Someone else in her family instilled a meaningful piece of advice in Rafac that helped her grow, her dad.
"My dad will say it all the time - soccer is a game, but at the end of the day, it teaches you so much about life. Perseverance, having to deal with rough circumstances, pushing yourself when you think it's going to go wrong. It has taught me so much. I've come out a stronger person because of it."
A strong person on and off the field, Rafac is a person that carries herself with a positive attitude and an urgency to work. She is someone who gives 110 percent, 110 percent of the time.
"I have a fiery personality. I'm fiery on the field, I'm fiery with my life, and my friendships," she said. "I'm all in to everything."
In her junior season, the Spartans were victorious over the Wolverines, and that proved to be a noteworthy memory that Rafac will forever hold in her heart.
"Beating Michigan my junior year was huge," she said with excitement. "I remember being on such a high for the next week. My teammates will all laugh because I was crying on the sidelines, I was so happy. That was a really fun moment for me."
In her senior and final season as a Spartan, Rafac has embraced her role as a leader on the team. Her positivity is contagious.
"I have a positive attitude, I'm a fierce competitor, and I'm excited about the games. Regardless about playing time, I go out there and I bust my butt as much as possible, for everyone, and I think that's how I lead."
A leader she is. It's no surprise the good example Rafac has set for the younger girls on the team. She is someone that her teammates can look up to, and someone that they can depend on.
"I hope they remember me as being a loyal friend, and an awesome teammate. Someone you can have, who can have your back at all times. At the end of the day, when you leave, you'll remember your friendships and not the games you played in."
As she reflects on her four years as a Spartan, she confidently feels proud of what she has accomplished herself, and all that she and her teammates have accomplished as a group. She has memories from each year that made her experience as a whole so special.
"You only have four years, and you have to take every opportunity you have," Rafac said. "You have to come to practice and bust your butt, all the time, because it all pays off. It goes so fast, and you never want to leave anything behind."
