MacKenzie, who hails from Greenwich, Conn., picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time in second grade and has been playing the game ever since. Her college career so far has been marked by consistent performance and extensive playing time. MacKenzie said her proudest collegiate moment to date is the team's upset over Princeton University, which was ranked No. 2 at the time, during her freshman year.
MacKenzie was surprised and honored when she heard she earned the League recognition, she said.
"It's one of the first individual recognitions that I've gotten," she said. "I was really flattered."
During Dartmouth's recent wins over No. 6 Syracuse University and Yale University, MacKenzie was matched against the opposition's most dangerous offensive threat.
She held Syracuse's Tee Ladouceur to just one point, one goal and two shot attempts while forcing four turnovers. Ladouceur came into the game averaging 6.33 points per game, the highest average in the nation. MacKenzie's success bolstered the rest of the defense, which contributed to the Big Green's 17-10 win.
Yale's Jenna Block, who amassed four points against Boston University,only scored a single goal against the Big Green when matched-up against MacKenzie. MacKenzie was also critical in halting Yale's building momentum late in the game when she forced a key turnover.
MacKenzie's contributions to the team's defense have played a significant part in several of its impressive statistics, including a 5.83 goals against average, which is second in the nation, and allowing of a meager 35 goals so far this season. The Big Green defense has only allowed six goals against Ivy League opponents and eight goals in three home games.
The defensive line has shown significant improvement from last year, MacKenzie said. Much of its success has to do with the players' increased experience from a year playing together, as well as a heightened team chemistry, she added.
"There is a feeling of trust among us that makes us work together really well," she said. "Last year there was less of a connected feeling."
MacKenzie also added that the improved defense is a result of improved play from all around the field.
"The midfielders especially have stepped up and are complementing the defenders in what we're trying to do," she said.
The women's team is now preparing for its Saturday game against Brown University in Providence, R.I.
In addition to "relying on [its] fundamentals and the basics," MacKenzie said the Dartmouth defense adapts its approach according to the style of play of its opposition.
"We tweak whatever we're doing to be aware of their tendencies," MacKenzie said.
The team cannot overlook its match-up against Brown, a team that upset Dartmouth last year, according to MacKenzie, who added that Brown is better than in past years.
While MacKenzie said that she is very proud of the team's accomplishments thus far, none of the players, including herself, can afford to feel overly pleased.
"There's always that chance that we get complacent with the successes we have, and we're really trying to have it be a full-season effort," she said.
Such a sustained effort could very well make the coveted Ivy Championship attainable.
"It's in the back of everyone's minds," MacKenzie said. "It's definitely a possibility."
