Joyce caps comeback with trip to nationals

Desire.

By definition, the word means to wish for; wish strongly for; to express a wish for; ask for.

As a first-grader growing up in St. Charles and attending Munhall Elementary School 12 years ago, it was Megan Joyce's desire to be the best soccer player possible. That was when Joyce began playing traveling soccer with the desire to eventually become a member of the perennial state title contending St. Charles East girls soccer squad, hopefully at one of her favorite positions - sweeper or goalie.

Her dreams began to fade four years later during an April afternoon in Indiana.

Her father, a few friends and Megan were returning home from a motorcycle ride (picking up a part for another bike). When her dad's friend pulled over to the side of the road to make a minor adjustment to his motorcycle, her dad pulled into a parking lot and waited for the friend.

"I remember looking in both directions when a man in a red truck waved my dad to let him into a spot," recalled Joyce. "As my dad started to turn, a minivan driver pulled out from the stopped traffic at about 40 mph and hit my father's bike with me on it.

"The bike was hit from behind and flew into the air with us both still on it. When the bike came down, the first thing to hit the ground was my father's shoulder which was dislocated. I fell off (the bike) and slid into the other cars on the road."

As Joyce tried to stand up, she collapsed and was taken to a nearby hospital for X-rays.

"I went from playing on the 'A' team for soccer to being benched after the accident," said Joyce. "I would still travel with the girls to games and tournaments."

A little while later, Joyce's name was taken off the traveling team roster.

"It was the summer before sixth grade," she said. "I was about to start attending a new school (Wredling). It was tough because my weekend life was not the same without soccer.

"Most of my friends were on the soccer team so I felt alone. Everything I knew was gone."

Joyce was also unsure about the overall condition of her right knee.

"I knew something was wrong but I didn't know what," she said. "I'd be walking up or down the stairs at school and my knee would collapse. Sometimes I'd end up falling down."

An MRI revealed ligament damage. After undergoing reconstructive surgery where screws were implanted, Joyce began what she referred to as "a long healing process."

"My doctors told me that my knee would never be the same as before and that I would never be capable of playing sports again," said Joyce.

Wanting to prove people wrong, Joyce refused to give up.

Upon hearing that it was a no-cut high school sport, Joyce decided to play tennis.

As a junior two years later, Joyce found herself in the No. 2 singles spot for the varsity Saints.

The next season, Joyce served as a co-captain and came within a match of reaching the state tournament.

Nevertheless, Joyce kept a soft spot for soccer.

"I missed it because I had spent so much time in soccer," she said. "It hurt me to look back (at the team's success) and read about how well they all were doing. I grew up with a lot of those girls. And I was always thinking, 'what if?'"

Not anymore.

Last weekend, Joyce captured the fifth singles title while helping lead the Elgin Community College women's tennis team to the Region IV championship and an automatic berth in next May's NJCAA Division I Tournament in Tucson, Ariz.

Seeded first heading into the tourney, Joyce earned three straight-set victories (6-0, 6-0; 6-2, 6-3; 6-1, 6-3).

"Everything worked out as planned," said Joyce, who admits that her knee is still bothersome at times. "I've always dreamed of qualifying for a national tournament."

"Megan is probably one of the most intense players I have ever had," said 23rd-year ECC coach Clark Hallpike. "She is very competitive, which I greatly admire. I wish all players had even an ounce of her competitive spirit."

Led by Sara Hegel and twin sisters Rebekah and Rachel Hegel - all Elgin High School graduates - ECC captured its first Illinois Skyway Conference crown (10-0 record) since 2004.

"This is undoubtedly the best team we've ever had," added Hallpike.

Joyce is just thankful to be a part of it.

"Everything happens for a reason," she said. "The accident changed the way I think about things and gave me a new appreciation for life and about how to live each day."

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