The Cortland Women’s Soccer team has been hit with a double blow of adversity. News broke that graduate student captain Jayden Kelley will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury.
Alongside Kelley, sophomore defender Rachael Ehrlich has been recovering from an ACL injury that occurred before the season even kicked off, robbing her of the opportunity to take the field from the very beginning.
The team now faces the task of navigating the season without the talents of not just one, but two formidable players.
During the Red Dragons’ 2021 season, Kelley suffered her first ACL injury. Kelley has always been a key player on the field as her skill and determination helped the Red Dragons end their 2022 season with a 8-0-1 conference record. Despite these setbacks, Kelley has managed to amass an impressive total of 43 points over her years playing at Cortland as a forward.
“My coping has been very poor. I’m struggling,” Kelley said. “I’m not one to cry in front of others but, I’ve been breaking down in front of people all week. I’m devastated.”
“I think going through this for the second time has made this even harder because I know how hard the first time around was and it’s depressing to think I have to do it all over again,” Kelley said.
Kelley suffered her ACL tear during a hard-fought battle against Buffalo State this past Wednesday. During the first half of the game, Kelley ran for the ball following a throw-in and collided with another player on the field.
“As far as advice goes, I’ve been struggling with that towards myself for the second go around,” Kelley said. “What I used to tell people when they tore their ACL was to be positive and to think about what you can do rather than what you can’t do. Currently, I think taking it one day at a time has been what I need because when I look forward and see the long road ahead, it’s scary and makes me sad.”
Ehrlich faced a significant setback when she tore her ACL during the summer, just before the start of the 2023 season. The timing couldn’t have been more unfortunate, as Ehrlich had been eagerly preparing to contribute to the team’s upcoming success.
“This injury has greatly affected me both physically and mentally, but the mental toll it has taken on me is the most noticeable,” Ehrlich said. “While I am limited with what I can do physically, like running, jumping, change of direction, etc., knowing that I won’t be able to play my sport for several more months is the hardest thing.”
Ehrlich’s talent played a pivotal role in the team’s impressive 2022 season, where they notched 11 shutouts. Ehrlich’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed, as she earned the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team award in 2022. Her ability to read the game, make crucial tackles, and maintain composure under pressure was significant in the Red Dragons’ defensive successes.
“If I could advise any athletes who suffer an ACL injury, it would be that any accomplishment is a big accomplishment,” Ehrlich said. “It is a long recovery, so it is important to appreciate the progress that is made. Recovery time is different for everyone, so try not to compare yourself to others. Everyone’s body is different and reacts differently to injuries. Lastly, reach out if you are struggling mentally or physically. The right people will do whatever it takes to help make this process as easy as possible.”
“I would also tell them to never let it stop them from their dream. They can get through it and will be even stronger for it,” Kelley said. “Rehab has to be their new sport. All of their effort needs to go into it if they want to have a successful rehab. It’s really hard and it’s important to lean on those around you, as much as you don’t want to, they really do care about you and want to help, so let them.”