The Collegian
Friday, March 29, 2024

Soccer’s Meaghan Carrigan wins Rookie of the Year

Redshirt freshman succeeds after injury

A torn ACL fueled Meaghan Carrigan, University of Richmond women’s soccer player and redshirt freshman, to train and learn on the sideline for a year before her debut season, during which she earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the A-10 First Team.

Carrigan tore her anterior cruciate ligament on the second day of the 2013 preseason in a 7-on-7 drill. “I ran toward the keeper because the keeper had the ball at her feet, and when I went to stop, my leg kind of just went out,” she said.

At that time, Carrigan was eligible for a medical redshirt, which would allow her to play four more years of collegiate soccer. “It was really tough in the beginning because I wanted to be playing really bad,” she said. “But it was a good learning experience because I got to see the team and how everybody worked together. I learned a lot from the coaches and also from the players.”

An injury that involved intensive rehab and time away from the field was the last thing that Carrigan wanted to experience in her first collegiate year of soccer. Instead of throwing in the towel, Carrigan took a positive approach and focused on the bigger picture.

“Well, it definitely wasn't what I expected my first college season to be like,” Carrigan said. “But then in the long run and looking back, I see it was like a blessing, because I was able to work out and get stronger and get just a year of learning down before even playing.”

The overwhelming support from those surrounding Carrigan made the process of coming back easier. “I got so many texts and my teammates would come to doctors’ appointments with me and Coach was at my surgery,” she said. “If I needed something at [Heilman Dining Center], everybody would carry my book bag and stuff. Everyone was really supportive.”

As the 2014 season approached, Carrigan knew she wanted to make a difference on her team. “We didn't have the best season last year and we wanted to change things,” she said. “I just wanted to do the best I could and prove that I could play at the college level.”

The success she had this season can be attributed to the months of training and rehabilitation. Carrigan gave Brian Beck, a team trainer, praise for working with her during rehab, and said she had worked hard at home sometimes, as well. “That was probably the most important thing – just sticking to my routine and doing everything the doctor said and not pushing myself too quickly to come back,” she said.

Carrigan also cross-trained with yoga and tried to focus on activities that were not soccer-specific to help her recovery.

It was clear to Carrigan’s teammates that she was going to succeed this season. “She came back with a fearless attitude,” junior Darian Podmajersky said. “She was an inspiration to everyone, using her setback as a setup for a comeback. She inspired our whole team through the work ethic she displayed when going through the process of coming back.”

The first game back for Carrigan was filled with excitement over the fact she had made it this far and could finally play again, she said.

Carrigan's first goal of the season was against Longwood University and came after a corner kick. She found the ball bouncing around the box and she hit it in. “It was the best feeling ever,” she said. “Lexi [Prillman] was right behind me, and I jumped into her arms,” she said.

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The A-10 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-A-10 player was appreciative of the accolades, which were recognition for all of her efforts. “I think it is well-deserved. I worked really hard,” she said. “It’s cool to be first-team because there are only 11 girls in the conference chosen. And it is awesome that Ashley Riefner was chosen to the first-team too.”

In preparation for next season, Carrigan said the offseason would feature a significant amount of training. Individual sessions, cross training and running are all activities Carrigan sees in the future for her and her returning teammates.

Although her team’s season ended short in the first round of the conference championships after falling to VCU, Carrigan is proud of what her team accomplished. “I think that we worked really hard and proved so much,” she said. “I’m super excited to see what happens in the years to come.”

Contact reporter Olivia Healy at olivia.healy@richmond.edu

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