After scoring 12 goals as a freshman, Kamiak senior Emele Chaddock appeared well on her way to a stellar career as a member of the Knights’ girls soccer team. But major injuries to both knees forced her to take a much longer — and more painful — route to her destination.
While playing for her club team prior to her sophomore year, Chaddock tore the ACL in her right knee. Instead of starring for the Knights, she spent the fall rehabbing her knee with the hope of getting back for the postseason. She accomplished that goal, returning for one playoff game and scoring a goal. It seemed Chaddock had written a nice comeback story.
Then the injury bug bit her again.
Prior to what would have been her junior season, Chaddock tore the ACL in her left knee and was forced to miss another season.
After going through several more months of rehab, she finally was able to return to the field full-time this season — and the results have been just what Kamiak head coach Beth Stewart expected.
“You can’t tell that she’s had torn ACLs,” Stewart said. “Usually you can tell with a player, especially a year later … (but) there’s no limp. There’s no favoring. There’s no anything. She’s back in 100 miles per hour.
“It’s exciting.”
Chaddock has scored 12 goals this season and has six assists. She has helped lead the Knights to a 13-1-1 record, including 11-1-1 in Wesco 4A heading into their final two games of the regular season.
“It felt like I never really left, actually,” said Chaddock, one of just five seniors on Kamiak’s 17-player roster. “A lot of these players I never got the chance to play with because they came in when I was out, so I really only played with the seniors. (The younger players) didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know who they were. They just treated me like any other player, which was kind of nice.”
Prior to her sophomore year, Chaddock made a verbal commitment to play at Washington State University. The Cougars’ coaching staff didn’t back off their offer — even after Chaddock’s second knee injury.
“They’ve been behind me 100 percent,” she said.
The first knee injury was the most difficult, Chaddock said.
“The first time it was totally unexpected and I had no idea how to deal with it, so I talked to a sports psychologist, which is what I want to major in,” she said. “That was cool and it helped me a lot. He’s the one that told me you always have to play knowing that you could get hurt again, but the potential for that shouldn’t prohibit how you play.”
Stewart said the sports psychologist helped Chaddock get back on the field, but the coach also credits Chaddock.
“I think it definitely helped her, but honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen a person love the game like she loves the game,” Stewart said. “She was going to do whatever it took to get back out on the field.”
Chaddock’s return has given the Knights one of the strongest front lines in Wesco 4A.
In addition to her skill, “she also brings competition to our own team because we had some good forwards and we have really good forwards now,” senior defender and team captain Tylor Adcock said. “We’re pretty stacked up front, but when she comes on to the field, it makes all of their levels of play go up just because she’s so good.”
“It’s great to have her out because it’s an extra goal-scorer,” senior goalkeeper Shannon Peth added. “Last year, we had some goal scorers, but we didn’t have that one person that scored almost every single game.”
After starting the 2014 season 1-4, Kamiak reeled off 12 straight games without a loss, including two playoff victories. The Knights tied one game in that span, the regular-season finale against Jackson.
Kamiak lost the district championship game 1-0 to the Timberwolves and was eventually eliminated from the district tournament. Jackson went on to finish second at the Class 4A state tournament, something that motivates the Knights.
“That put it in perspective for these girls,” Stewart said. “Our arch-rival made it that far and last season we beat them, tied them and then lost in the district championship game. I said, ‘They’re in the state finals and it could have been you guys, just that easy. That 1-0 game, that was the difference.’ For them, that was the most eye-opening thing.”
Kamiak plays Jackson (12-1-0 league, 12-2-1 overall) in the regular-season finale for both teams Wednesday in a game that could decide the conference championship.
The Knights’ run last season helped prepare them for the success they’ve enjoyed this season.
“We know how good it felt to continue to win,” Adcock said. “I think it really drove us to stay on the winning path.”
Stewart said if her team can keep its focus, it can have a similar run to the one Jackson put together last season.
“That’s up to them,” Stewart said. “They can take it all the way to the top if that’s what they decide to do.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
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