Knee injuries don't stop Carmel's Lehman

A lot of athletes have surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

Lauren Lehman of Carmel Catholic has been there.

The senior has endured three operations in as many years to repair her wounded knees, but her courage and determination find herself on the soccer field again this spring.

"I just feel fortunate to be playing," said Lehman, a midfielder who had 13 goals and 7 assists as a junior, after missing her freshman and sophomore seasons. "A lot of people would have given it up, but I just love the game."

Her first two ACL tears occurred almost exactly one year apart, just as her freshman and sophomore soccer seasons were starting.

Lehman tore the ACL in her left knee on March 20, 2007 and suffered an ACL tear in her right knee on March 21, 2008. She damaged the right knee again after her junior year. That injury also included a slight tear of the meniscus.

Lehman was playing in a tournament final in Iowa last June when the injury happened 20 minutes into the game.

"I was just going up to pressure the outside defender," she said. "I went up to her, blocked the ball, the ball hit my foot in the air and we hit knees awkwardly. It was bad timing."

Even though her team won the game in penalty kicks, Lehman had a four-hour journey back home to deal with her latest setback.

"It was rare (injuring the knee that way)," Lehman said. "The doctor said it was a freak thing of nature."

Surgery No. 3 for Lehman happened last Aug. 4. This time, doctors used a cadaver graft to put into her knee.

"Actually, the process was less painful," Lehman said. "The rehab still took six months to recover. Right now, it feels great and strong."

During the winter, she thought long and hard about coming back to the game of soccer.

She found support in her mother, Kathy.

"I really couldn't do it without my mom," Lehman said. "I would cry myself to sleep.

"My mom would be there for me and remind me how much I love the game and told me to pray. I just wanted to achieve a goal and stay positive. Everything happens for a reason."

When soccer practice began, Lehman was ready to go.

"It's just a good feeling walking out there," Lehman said. "It feels good to be out there."

The Corsairs are thrilled that she's back.

"I see true dedication in a player to come back and work," Carmel's Lauren Bowles said. "She's kind of a role model for me. She gives 110-percent effort out there and is always working hard in practice."

Carmel coach John Halloran saw Lehman's resolve and knew she would make it back on the field by the start of the season.

"The biggest thing with her is, she never let down over the summer," Halloran said. "She was very active weightlifting and in open gyms.

"A lot of people going through this three times wouldn't exhibit the leadership she has."