Katie Merson
Katie Merson: The Road Back
10/1/2014 4:46:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Eagle goalkeeper has returned from injury to put her name in school recor book
The summer of 2013 had an air of confidence for Georgia Southern Women's Soccer. After all, the Eagles returned the lion's share of its 2012 Southern Conference Tournament Championship squad. That all changed on June 21st.
"I was out training with some of the girls from the team and I planted to kick the ball, and I felt it pop," said Katie. "I sat down and started to cry because I knew what it meant."
Doctors told Katie that she had torn her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) as well as the meniscus in her left leg. On July 11th, Katie underwent surgery to replace the ligament with bits from her hamstring as well as from a cadaver. The surgery left the Eagles without their starting goalkeeper for the 2013 season.
Merson's injury left the Eagles with one healthy goalkeeper entering the season and an injury before the game at Mercer left Head Coach Brian Dunlaeavy with no healthy or eligible netminders entering the rivalry contest. In that moment of turmoil, Dunleavy turned to an injured Merson for help.
"We found out right before the Mercer game that we didn't have a goalkeeper, so Brian gave me a pair of gloves and asked me to teach someone to play keeper in pregame warm-ups," said Merson.
That player was Alana Rudd, a senior midfielder from Hampton, England, who held the Bears scoreless for the first half hour while the Eagles went two-nil up. Three unanswered goals over the next 20 minutes changed all that as the Eagles fell 3-2 on the road.
Despite Rudd's solid work in a tough situation, making 11 saves in the match, Dunleavy found a goalkeeper by bringing Molly Williams off the University's club team for a spot on the varsity squad. She proved her worth straight-away, helping the Eagles blank Samford in Williams' first collegiate appearance.
While the Eagles struggled through the 2013 season, Merson worked through her rehab, knowing she would have one more shot to play in 2014.
"During rehab, you have moments where you think 'I just can't do this.' Especially when you're coming back on a time crunch like I was," said Merson. "I had those, but I was motivated to make sure I finished my college career on my terms."
Katie's recovery hit a major milestone on February 14th when she was allowed to run for the first time. Her progress continued throughout the spring, but it was on April 5th when Katie got two of her friends back.
"We were playing a spring game in Savannah against Armstrong Atlantic when Kaitlin (Athletic Trainer) allowed me to do rehab with cleats on for the first time," said Merson. "I only got to wear them for the 20 minutes that I was doing footwork practice on the sideline, but I didn't want to take them off."
Non-conference play in 2014 has been good for the Eagles who matched their 2013 win total of five in just six matches this season. The Eagles avenged last year's 5-0 loss at Indiana with a 2-1 win over the Hoosiers in the second week of the season. The success this season has also come for Merson who recorded her 17th career shutout on September 12 to break the school record.
"When I broke the shutouts record against Alabama State, everyone including my Dad, came over to congratulate me," said Merson. "I was happy to get the record, but the best part of the day was getting an assist."
Merson became the first Eagle goalkeeper in recent memory to score an offensive point when she assisted on the Eagles' third goal against the Hornets. Her long punt was deflected goalward by an Alabama State defender. Sophomore Jennifer Wittick took one touch and struck the ball past the keeper to ice the victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles host their first home Sun Belt Conference matches this weekend when Arkansas State and Arkansas Little Rock come to Eagle Field.
"I was out training with some of the girls from the team and I planted to kick the ball, and I felt it pop," said Katie. "I sat down and started to cry because I knew what it meant."
Doctors told Katie that she had torn her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) as well as the meniscus in her left leg. On July 11th, Katie underwent surgery to replace the ligament with bits from her hamstring as well as from a cadaver. The surgery left the Eagles without their starting goalkeeper for the 2013 season.
Merson's injury left the Eagles with one healthy goalkeeper entering the season and an injury before the game at Mercer left Head Coach Brian Dunlaeavy with no healthy or eligible netminders entering the rivalry contest. In that moment of turmoil, Dunleavy turned to an injured Merson for help.
"We found out right before the Mercer game that we didn't have a goalkeeper, so Brian gave me a pair of gloves and asked me to teach someone to play keeper in pregame warm-ups," said Merson.
That player was Alana Rudd, a senior midfielder from Hampton, England, who held the Bears scoreless for the first half hour while the Eagles went two-nil up. Three unanswered goals over the next 20 minutes changed all that as the Eagles fell 3-2 on the road.
Despite Rudd's solid work in a tough situation, making 11 saves in the match, Dunleavy found a goalkeeper by bringing Molly Williams off the University's club team for a spot on the varsity squad. She proved her worth straight-away, helping the Eagles blank Samford in Williams' first collegiate appearance.
While the Eagles struggled through the 2013 season, Merson worked through her rehab, knowing she would have one more shot to play in 2014.
"During rehab, you have moments where you think 'I just can't do this.' Especially when you're coming back on a time crunch like I was," said Merson. "I had those, but I was motivated to make sure I finished my college career on my terms."
Katie's recovery hit a major milestone on February 14th when she was allowed to run for the first time. Her progress continued throughout the spring, but it was on April 5th when Katie got two of her friends back.
"We were playing a spring game in Savannah against Armstrong Atlantic when Kaitlin (Athletic Trainer) allowed me to do rehab with cleats on for the first time," said Merson. "I only got to wear them for the 20 minutes that I was doing footwork practice on the sideline, but I didn't want to take them off."
Non-conference play in 2014 has been good for the Eagles who matched their 2013 win total of five in just six matches this season. The Eagles avenged last year's 5-0 loss at Indiana with a 2-1 win over the Hoosiers in the second week of the season. The success this season has also come for Merson who recorded her 17th career shutout on September 12 to break the school record.
"When I broke the shutouts record against Alabama State, everyone including my Dad, came over to congratulate me," said Merson. "I was happy to get the record, but the best part of the day was getting an assist."
Merson became the first Eagle goalkeeper in recent memory to score an offensive point when she assisted on the Eagles' third goal against the Hornets. Her long punt was deflected goalward by an Alabama State defender. Sophomore Jennifer Wittick took one touch and struck the ball past the keeper to ice the victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles host their first home Sun Belt Conference matches this weekend when Arkansas State and Arkansas Little Rock come to Eagle Field.
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