Megan Brady dreamed of becoming a standout on the lacrosse field from an early age.

After watching her older brother, Matt, and younger brother, Timmy, begin playing the sport and then flourish in little league, club and high school lacrosse, Megan, followed them onto the field.

In fifth grade, Megan began to the play the sport and it quickly became second nature.

"I was very lucky to have my brothers (Matt and Timmy) teach me the game, the rules and a lot of the skills from the start," Megan Brady said. "I think that helped lacrosse just come naturally to me and as a result, I loved the sport from day one."

Timmy's lacrosse coach at Providence, Rob Horrigan, who knows all the Bradys well including mom, Margi and dad, John, said, "The whole family is amazing. To have three, Division I, college lacrosse players in one household (in Horrigan's opinion) is incredible. But as good of players as they are, they are better people."

Now, Matt, who starred at Providence, is a sophomore starter at Susquehanna College, while Timmy is a sophomore goalkeeper at Providence High and Megan is a rising senior (attacker/midfielder) on a strong Panther team.

Last year, Megan earned All Conference 8 and All South Meck News' honors, scoring 40 goals on a Panther team that went 15-6 and advanced to the state semifinals in the playoffs.

"Our goal now is to do better than we did last year, and I think that means even more with me being a senior," Megan said. "I think we have the potential to be really good if we put all of our minds to it."

No matters what happens to Megan and her Providence team this year, also led by head coach Kerri Flanagan, the Panthers' senior will move onto the next phase of her career at Winthrop University, where she will also help start the Eagles girls' lacrosse program from scratch.

Megan, 18, is a major part of Winthrop's 19-member inaugural recruiting class, including her friend and Midwestern Force club teammate, Charlotte Catholic's Megan Patterson, that will help launch the program when they begin play in the spring of 2013.

"I'm really excited about going to Winthrop and being part of starting a new program and new traditions," Megan said. "I feel like they really wanted me and I also want to go there and make a difference."

Observer-area girls lacrosse players to watch

Megan Patterson, Charlotte Catholic: One of the Cougars' top scorers; will play at Winthrop next season.

Briana Storey, Charlotte Catholic: Like Patterson, this Cougars standout will play at the next level, heading to Division III power Roanoke College.

Megan Brady, Providence: Like her brothers, the younger Brady is a high school standout and will play at Winthrop next season.

Austin Brown, Providence Day: All-state performer makes the Chargers a factor and will play at Coastal Carolina next season.

Erin Larson, Myers Park: Standout defender is a member of Lower Atlantic National team.

Taylor Vaccaro, Lake Norman: Had 46 goals and 12 assists in her first season in lacrosse, to earn Lake Norman News Player of the Year.

Mikayla Sweeney, Marvin Ridge: Another college-level talent as the Mavericks' top offensive threat; going to Virginia Tech.

Kelly Belue, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers' top talent will play at Liberty next season.

Kayla Wynne, Weddington: Standout senior midfielder leads the Warriors' offense and will take her talents to Coastal Carolina beginning this summer.

Linley Benson, Charlotte Country Day: Senior will have to step up after most of defending state champion Bucs were lost to graduation.

Jay Edwards