In mere weeks, at the end of Marquette women’s lacrosse’s season, graduate midfielder Hanna Bodner will hang up her No. 2 jersey for the final time.

Having been with the Golden Eagles since 2022, Bodner has not only been a program-changing player, but has recently gotten the time to reflect on how the program has changed her for the better.

“I’ve learned so much from freshman to senior year about being a leader and how to lead those who are younger than me,” Bodner said.

What started as a quiet presence has evolved into a central voice on and off the field. The Haverford, Pennsylvania native has grown into one of the team’s most experienced players.

That growth did not happen in a linear fashion by any means.

Like many first-year athletes, Bodner entered Marquette still adjusting to the speed, physicality and expectations of Division I lacrosse. That naïveté, head coach Meredith Black says, was a major test for the midfielder.

“Over the years, she’s learned the level of dedication required,” Black said. “Now she truly understands it — she’s grown tremendously as a leader.”

On top of those first-year jitters, a major injury in her sophomore year set back her early development even further. When Bodner returned to the field, her development did not immediately translate, requiring her to be even more patient.

Eventually, the numbers really started to shine through in her senior campaign.

In 2025, Bodner accumulated 45 goals and 12 assists en route to her being named the Big East midfielder of the year and a unanimous All-Big East first team selection.

Black highlighted her versatility as one of her greatest strengths, noting her ability to contribute in nearly every phase of play without sacrificing consistency or efficiency.

“You can count on her to get a draw, get a turnover, score a goal, make an assist,” Black said.

Even after that significant a season, she still believed she had more to offer as a Golden Eagle and successfully appealed for a fifth year of eligibility.

“It was a celebration,” Black said.

Her return immediately reinforced her importance within the roster, both as a top performer and as a veteran voice.

Currently sitting third on the team in both points and goals, Bodner also leads the team in both ground balls and draw controls as the Golden Eagles sit at 3rd in the Big East.

As she has gotten more experience on the field, what was once a quieter role has evolved into one where her voice carries weight in huddles, practices and game situations.

As four first-year classes have come into the program since her arrival, Bodner has been in a unique position of veteran leadership for almost her entire Marquette career.

“Mentoring the younger girls, and worrying about them and having them become better players, has just kind of got me to where I am now and playing better,” Bodner said.

Her growth as a leader has come not only through personal performance but through how she elevates teammates in practices and games. She has helped set the tone for the program’s culture over the last couple of seasons, as according to Black, she has consistently emphasized team development and shared success.

“I’ve just tried my best to worry about everyone around me,” Bodner said. “And that just makes myself a better player.”

That team-first mentality has been reflected in her preparation and consistency, which have become defining traits of her game. Her off-the-field approach extends beyond competition, showing up in the daily habits that shape her performance over time.

“She’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Black said.

According to her coach and teammates, that willingness shows up on the field, on the sidelines, on the weight room and even in her diet. Her habits have helped her build a reputation as one of the most dependable players in the program, in more than statistics and accolades.

Those tendencies have shaped how others approach their own development, something that coach Black has noticed throughout the last few seasons.

“It’s the leadership, her determination, her work ethic,” Black said. “She represents working your hardest to be your very best.”

As her final season comes to a close, Bodner and Black both see her legacy as defined not only by her production, but by the standard she helped establish within the program.

“I would love to be remembered as a great player,” Bodner said, “but more as a good leader and good person.”

This article was written by Eamon Bevan. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter/X @EamonBevanMU.