Emma Firenze knew something wasn’t right last season. More than a year removed from surgery, her right knee hadn’t healed properly.

“I just wasn’t feeling comfortable,” she said. “So I decided I had to do something else.”

When the season ended, she opted to have a second surgery, which she underwent on Christmas Eve.

Ten months later, she’s back playing with Syracuse and, by her account, fully recovered. She started her first game on Sunday against North Carolina State and is using a unique approach on the field to succeed. She could start her second game Thursday night, when the Orange (5-10-1, 1-6 Atlantic Coast) hosts Miami (5-9, 2-5) at SU Soccer Stadium.

During a game with her club team before coming to SU in 2013, Firenze made a “wrong step” and her knee buckled.

“It was just kind of a freak thing,” she said.

Surgery required her to sit out her entire freshman season. She played as a sophomore in 2014 but never felt fully healthy. In 15 games, she recorded only four shots on goal and didn’t have a single point.

Getting a second surgery was a joint decision made by Firenze, her family and SU’s coaches, including head coach Phil Wheddon.

“I don’t want a player to be hurt and uncomfortable if they can avoid it,” Wheddon said. “It was disappointing for everyone that her first surgery didn’t work the way that she wanted to. It was a decision that was in the best interest of Emma.”

The journey back to the field was a grueling one. Firenze rehabbed every day for several months. She had days where she questioned whether she would ever play soccer again.

She sought encouragement from her coaches and family, including her sister Jackie Firenze, a captain on the team.

“Of course, there’s going to be highs and lows,” Jackie said. “If she ever gets low, I’m there to help her out.”

But in September, Syracuse’s assistant athletic trainer Kathleen Chaney cleared Emma to play. She practiced for a couple weeks before actually playing in a game. During that time, she emphasized playing the ball with her right foot. Firenze is naturally left-footed, but one of her main strengths as a player has long been her ability to use both feet effectively.

After the injury to her right knee, though, Firenze fell into a habit of using predominantly her left foot. She’s been using her right foot more and says she’s as capable with it now as she’s ever been.

As Firenze showed that type of progress in practice, Wheddon gave her a chance to play in games. She came off the bench in each of the first six games of ACC play. She then, she started for the first time in 2015 against the Wolfpack on Sunday, when she scored her first career goal 50 seconds into the game.

With three games left, Firenze said her goal is to score another goal before season’s end. Wheddon wants to see her continue to improve her fitness so she can play for longer stretches of time. Against N.C. State, she didn’t play the entirety of either half.

But Firenze simply being on the field is something she and Wheddon don’t take for granted.

“She had a long road and she’s fought really, really hard to get where she is,” Wheddon said. “I’m really happy for her.”

Published on October 22, 2015 at 9:59 am

Contact Michael: mdburk01@syr.edu