A Renewed Passion
August 25, 2009 09:35 AM | General
August 25, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Take a glance at women’s soccer forward Megan Mischler this season and one can’t help but notice her gleaming smile stretching from ear to ear. And after everything that the Moon Township, Pa., resident has been through recently, it’s clear why.
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| A season-ending injury in 2008 has helped Megan Mischler rediscover her passion for soccer.
Brian Persinger photo |
Her happiness comes from an appreciation of the sport that was rediscovered while forced to watch her teammates from the sideline. You see, it was 11 months ago when the speedy forward missed the final eight games of the 2008 season with a broken fibula.
Mischler, WVU’s leading scorer at the time, chased hard after a ball and collided with Connecticut goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe, sending both players hard to the ground. Mischler quickly grabbed her leg, knowing there was bone damage and her season was likely done.
Forced into a boot on her lower left leg, the journalism major could only watch as her team won a conference division title and headed into postseason play. Despite the abrupt end to her sophomore campaign, Mischler still was named to the all-BIG EAST third team.
She didn’t necessarily like that. Mischler knew the recognition was deserved but the high-level competitor wanted to be on the field sweating and grinding it out with her teammates.
“I’ve never had an injury that kept me out that long and ended my season,” said the 5-foot-5 Mischler. “It wasn’t something you think would happen to you. I missed the fun part of the year with the regular season final stretch run and postseason games. I wanted badly to be out there with my teammates.”
Instead the fall ended and the winter months approached with rehabilitation the focus of Mischler’s activities. It meant more taxing hours of rehabilitation and mental preparation for the spring season where she could once again join her teammates on the field.
“There was a lot of rehab, like twice a day with Liz (Bunn), our athletic trainer,” explained Mischler. “She helped me so much and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. I also had my teammates there helping and encouraging me along the way.”
Mischler was ready to go, only to have to wait for the spring season to begin for her craving to be satisfied. The Mountaineers exited the NCAA tournament in the second round with Mischler having a slight chance of returning to the field in third round play. A return in late November turned into a long offseason.
“I always thought I loved the game and went out and played every minute as hard as I could,” said Mischler. “But I never really realized my passion for the game until I got hurt and had to miss the end of my sophomore season. When I came back this past spring, I really tried to play every minute like it was my last.”
Mischler took advantage of a productive spring, leading the Mountaineers offensively.
“It was really important for me to be healthy this spring with the new lineup and get back to touching the ball in the game-like situations,” said Mischler. “I needed to get out there and establish myself as a scoring threat.”
And her goal-scoring ability is what separates Mischler as one of the top forwards in the conference, something coach Nikki Izzo-Brown will rely on this fall.
“I know that’s my job as a forward. That’s what you have to do,” agreed Mischler, who has appeared in 37 career matches for WVU. “My job is to score and put the ball in the back of the net. And I like that kind of pressure – it doesn’t bother me.”
“Megan was having a tremendous 2008 season until her unfortunate injury,” commented Izzo-Brown. “She did all the things we ask of our forwards and is coming off a very good spring. It will be a huge help to have her healthy this fall and doing the things we know she is capable of doing. There’s no question that having her healthy for a full season is a big plus for our team.”
A year ago, Mischler performed well early, landing spots on all-tournament teams in weekend trips to Notre Dame and Tennessee. She had a team-best seven goals at the time of her injury.
The 2009 Mountaineers will need another fast start from Mischler, who was recently named a preseason all-BIG EAST selection.
She will also be counted on to lead a young WVU squad that lost six starters, including three All-Americans, from a year ago.
“This is my third season at forward and I’m one of the oldest on the team. We don’t have too many seniors, so I really have to step up this year and become a leader,” said Mischler. “Lead all the younger forwards and everybody else on the field too.”
Mischler shook off nearly 10 months of rust in WVU’s lone exhibition match against Maryland in mid-August. But the rest of the season will be special for her to proudly wear the Old Gold and Blue uniform when starting lineups are announced.
“I always get butterflies and I like hearing my name over the loudspeaker and seeing the fans in the stands,” shared Mischler. “I love every time we step on the field and know our team is getting ready for a battle. I’m just happy to be playing soccer again.”
