By Andy Walter

GEORGETOWN — The first time Lilly Short tore up her right knee was bad enough.

But the second time she did it, the injury definitely could have ended the Sussex Tech High soccer star’s career.

Along with her tearing her ACL and meniscus, Short also had cartilage damage with the second injury.

Of course, the second injury was also worse psychologically.

“It impacted me a lot mentally,” said Short. “After the second one, they didn’t even know if I was going to play soccer again.

“They basically told me that I had to train hard and that I couldn’t be sad for long. I had to get back on my feet and figure out a way to overcome it.”

All of which made what Short accomplished this past spring all the more meaningful.

After injuring her knee midway through her junior season, the Georgetown resident returned for her senior season. And not only did she come back, but Short came back playing at a high level.

Short was recently named to the state’s Top XI, bookending the honor she also won as a freshman. She was also selected to play in the Senior All-Star Game, which is slated for Saturday at Cape Henlopen at 5 p.m.

If there was a triumphant moment in Short’s return from her latest injury, it came in Sussex Tech’s season finale against Henlopen North rival Cape Henlopen.

Short came into the matchup needing three goals to reach 100 for her career. She scored four.

It was in the game against Cape her junior year that Short suffered her second knee injury.

“I was a little nervous at first,” she said. “But once the game started, I was ready and got to prove myself again.

“It did mean a lot,” Short said about getting to 100. “I’d been through two injuries and still was able to accomplish something so big. For me that meant a lot.”

“She just completely dominated the game,” said Ravens’ coach Carlos Villa. “That was a great ending to see her do that. It was bittersweet.

“She’s the best soccer player I’ve ever coached — boy or girl,” he added. “Her ability to understand the game and to do all the little things ... she’s has a phenomenal shot.”

Short finished with 22 goals and six assists this spring. She’s currently playing for the Ospreys at DE Turf Complex.

Clearly, Short’s injuries changed her. But they probably also impacted her college future, too.

There was a time when schools like Penn State and USC were talking to her. But schools seemed to lose interest after she got hurt.

NCAA Division I Radford University still offered Short a scholarship and she accepted it.

“I’m happy with where I am,” said Short.

Ironically, Short’s two siblings — Patrick and Kiara — have also had knee injuries, too. Both of them also played soccer at Sussex Tech.

Between the three of them, they’ve had six ACL surgeries. including three for Patrick.

“They say it’s not genetic and it’s just bad luck,” said Short. “Seeing them both go through it, I had an idea of what I had to do and what hard work I had to put in to overcome the injury. It was helpful seeing my brother come back three times. It helped me know that I can do it. It just depends on much work I put into it.”

Short, who also played field hockey at Sussex Tech, probably missed half of her high school games because of injuries. But that only makes the things she accomplished for the Ravens that much more impressive.

Villa, who has been through knee injuries himself, wondered at times if she’d make it all the way back.

“But she’s never given up,” he said. “She’s come back every single time. It’s been a struggle for her. But her perseverance and just her mentality, she’s such a hard worker.

“She’s always out there battling and trying to make everybody a better player.”

There were doubts along the way for Short too, of course. She wondered if she’d be able to get back to the high level she’d been at before.

When she decided to play her last high school season, Short made up her mind that was going to try not to worry about her knee.

“I was unsure,” she said. “But I never know when I will not play again so I might as well play. If something happens, then something happens.

“An injury shouldn’t stop you from achieving your goals.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@inius.org.
Follow on Twitter @DSNSports.