When she was in third grade, Caroline Steele filled out a form titled “All About Me.”

She was asked to write down how many people were in her family and her favorite television show. Students were also instructed to write what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Some students wrote they aspired to become doctors. A few of Steele’s other peers wrote they wanted to become lawyers.

Steele didn’t write a traditional occupation. Instead, she wrote that she wanted to follow in her family’s footsteps.

She wanted to play lacrosse for the Terps.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” said Steele, now a standout Terrapins women’s lacrosse freshman midfielder. “Obviously, through the recruiting process you look at other schools, but I had my heart set.”

Steele’s uncle, John Lamon, started the tradition.

Lamon, a three-time All-Anne Arundel County selection at Wroxeter High School, was friendly with the late Bud Beardmore, longtime coach of this university’s men’s lacrosse team. When he looked at colleges, it didn’t take long for John to make a decision: He wanted to play for the Terps.

His brother, Chris Lamon, also opted for the Terps, playing under coach Dick Edell.

The Lamon brothers were hardly the only members of Steele’s family to play lacrosse at this university. Gretchen Steele, her mother, was a midfielder for the 1983 Terps team that reached the NCAA quarterfinals and on the squad that reached the 1984 championship game.

“The legacy John started is one that we’ve seen grow with this family,” Gretchen said.

It continued with John’s daughter, Kristen Lamon, an All-American and four-year starter at St. Mary’s High. She decided to join coach Cathy Reese and the Terps in 2011.

Kristen appeared in all 22 games as a senior last season and was a member of two championship teams.

“That red, white, gold and black fire started burning early,” John said. “Now we’re just a total Maryland family.”

Growing up with three older brothers, Steele quickly started playing lacrosse. She estimates she began when she was about three.

“When I was born, I was basically born with a lacrosse stick,” Steele said. “That’s all I ever wanted to do. I just love the game.”

Lacrosse wasn’t the only sport Steele grew accustomed to playing. She also dedicated time to swimming, soccer and basketball. But lacrosse took precedent.

It was her first love.

While many young children spend their free time playing video games or watching TV, Steele was different. She was outside, practicing her shot.

“She would always go outside with her brothers,” Gretchen said. “And to this day, whoever is here, they go outside and just push each other.”

A WINNING CULTURE

Steele was a starter on the Severn lacrosse team since her freshman year. By the time her high school lacrosse career ended, Steele had set new marks with 94 single-season goals and 246 career goals.

She scored 11 times against Queen Anne’s on Senior Day, a single-game school record, and was a two-time All-Metro midfielder.

Renie Sotiropoulos, who coached Steele at Severn, said Steele is one of the most athletic players she has ever worked with.

“Steele was very likely the best athlete to come through Severn, male or female, since I’ve been here, and that’s 20 years,” Sotiropoulos said. “Her innate athletic abilities are astounding.”

Lacrosse seemed to run in the family; each of Steele’s brothers excelled in the sport.

Her eldest brother, Scotty, played lacrosse at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina and was named the school’s Male Athlete of the Year during his final season, and Brendan is a starter on the lacrosse team at St. Mary’s.

Gretchen, though, said she wouldn’t have minded if Steele didn’t follow in her family’s footsteps.

“I said I wasn’t stepping in, and I wasn’t going to give her an ounce of my advice,” Gretchen said. “I wanted her to make the choice and be happy with it.”

But Steele knew she wanted to play for the Terps one day after attending games as a kid.

Her mother and Kristen thought Steele would end up at Loyola, as many of her Severn teammates had committed to the school.

During a bus ride home from a soccer match on Halloween her sophomore year, however, Steele called her mom and said she wanted to commit to the Terps.

Upon arriving home, Steele called Reese. While she was on the phone, Gretchen received an email from Loyola.

“In that time, somebody got to Loyola and they were already trying to get ahold of [Steele] to stop her from committing to Maryland,” Gretchen said. “It was out of nowhere — something to giggle at.”

Steele held true to her commitment to the Terps. Soon, she felt a sense of urgency.

“I told myself I had to work my butt off now,” Steele said. “Kristen’s there already, my mom in the past, my uncle, I just wanted to make my family proud. My goal was to be as good as I needed to be to come here.”

John said it was a “dream come true” when Kristen opted to join the Terps. Gretchen had a similar reaction when learning of Steele’s decision.

“I told her she didn’t have to make her decision based on me or [Kristen],” Gretchen said. “It’s really a dream.”

NOT WASTING TIME

Every time Steele’s name is announced over the speakers at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, she pinches herself.

As a starter in each of the Terps’ eight games this season, Steele has heard her name called often. But she still isn’t used to it.

“I’m just so honored and humbled to even have the opportunity to play here and start here,” Steele said.

After the Terps’ 19-7 season-opening victory over William & Mary, Steele said she was thankful simply to have a spot on the roster, let alone a starting job.

A member of the Terps’ freshman class, ranked No. 2 by Inside Lacrosse, Steele has thrived through the first eight games of the season.

The first score of her young Terps career was a behind-the-back goal against the Tribe. She has scored 11 times since.

“It’s pretty special to be able to go somewhere and wear a Maryland uniform knowing the history of your family members and their experience behind it,” Reese said. “She’s got a lot of energy down there, a little spunk on the offensive end. I like it.”

Steele said she is determined to follow in her family’s footsteps and put together a succesful Terps career.

It’s something she’s wanted to do since third grade.

“Having the opportunity to play here is just a dream come true,” Steele said. “I hope in four years I make my family and teammates proud.”