By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics

Following in an older sibling's footsteps is never easy, especially when that sibling set high standards. Erin Menges was the captain of William & Mary's field hockey team as senior and twice named the CAA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Four years younger, Cara Menges wasn't daunted by that. Now in her third season with the Tribe, she has started 43 consecutive games at midfielder — the same position Erin played — and is in her second season as team captain.

"I was a little nervous because of the expectations she set with such a nice career here," Cara said of Erin, who graduated in 2018. "But it was also nice that she wasn't here when I came, so I was able to make my own impression.

"Having her as an outside supporter made it so much easier. I was able to become my own player. Maybe (teammates) compared us, but it was never a pressure situation for me to be like Erin or fill her shoes."

Cara's career totals of eight goals and 10 assists don't stand out in the Tribe's record book. But Menges, whose team begins play in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament Thursday afternoon, means more to the Tribe that numbers.

"She leads on and off the field," said W&M coach Tess Ellis, who coached Erin from 2014-17. "She plays the most minutes because she's that good an athlete. And she's the most humble person you'll ever meet."

Cara and Erin aren't the only captains in the Menges family. Their brother, Sean, has that role with Richmond's lacrosse team this spring as a fifth-year senior.

"It's always come pretty natural to the three of us," Cara said. "I'd say we're more of quiet leaders in terms of leading by example, but I definitely take pride in that."

The most decorated athlete in the Menges family is their mother, Kim. On William Smith College's field hockey team from 1984-87, she scored 135 points (58 goals, 19 assists). It was a school record when she left; it's fifth now.

"She was a beast," Cara said.

David Menges, the patriarch, played on Hobart College's ice hockey team from 1982-86.

As you can see, athletics is a big part of the family's DNA. Cara played soccer, basketball and field hockey at St. Catherine's in Richmond. The Times-Dispatch named her Girls Athlete of the Year for the 2017-18 season.

Menges also stars in the classroom. In each of her three years at William & Mary, she has been a Provost Award winner and named to the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

"She's everything that a student-athlete at William & Mary represents," Ellis said. "She holds very high standards for herself."
Menges is majoring in government, but she's uncertain where that will take her.

"I'm really interested in community development or the counseling route," she said. "But I'm up for anything. Everyone thinks since I'm a government major that I want to work in D.C., but that's the last thing I want to do."

Menges is also involved. A few months ago, she agreed to help a family friend who had gone through an unspeakable tragedy.
In July of 2019, a former Duke lacrosse player named Morgan Rodgers died by suicide. Cara had known her for years because their mothers were lifelong friends.

Rodgers' mother, Dona, reached out to Cara about an organization she had started called Morgan's Message. Its goal is to raise awareness of mental health issues among student-athletes.

With teammate Sally Snead and lacrosse player Grace Ahonen, Menges is starting a chapter at William & Mary. Their first meeting in March drew about 45 student-athletes.

"Seeing how big it's gotten in such a short period of time, I'm really, really proud to be a part of it," Menges said. "Even if you're not classified as mentally sick, you still have bad days, and talking about it is crucial. So many student-athletes are going to benefit from it."

In the CAA tournament for the fifth consecutive season, W&M (3-1) will go against Delaware (3-2) in Thursday's 4 p.m. semifinal. James Madison, who dealt the Tribe its only loss in the season opener, will face Drexel in the first semifinal at noon.

"I'm biased, but I think we have the ability to go all the way," Menges said. "Our defense has been amazing. All three of our starting defenders are sophomores, but they play like they have so much experience.

"If we can put that together with getting a lot of corners and scoring a lot of goals, we have the potential to go all the way. We want some revenge on JMU. We'd love to play them again because the first game wasn't our best game."