University of North Carolina Athletics
Amato: Forword Makes Most Of Second Chance
November 19, 2009 | Field Hockey
Nov. 19, 2009
By Neil Amato, TarHeelBlue.com
Normally, 8,370 miles from home was no big deal for Danielle Forword. She traveled to get an education and play field hockey in Chapel Hill, but those aren't the only reasons. Forword is more than the go-to-class, go-to-practice sort. She wants to live a caffeine-fueled, sleep-can-wait, fill-it-to-the-brim life.
She's been a photographer for The Daily Tar Heel. She's been a blogger for NCAA.com. She is part of the Carolina Leadership Academy's Veteran Leaders program. This semester, she's taking an 18-hour course load.
"Let's just say I'm not sleeping much," the journalism major says.
Last October, Forword suffered a ligament tear in her right knee, her busy existence coming to a grinding and painful halt. Field hockey was taken from her, and she had to feel like she was a long, long way from home.
Forword never felt alone; she had her Carolina family. But the player who was always full speed ahead suddenly had to stop and watch. She says the injury has been good for her in many ways.
"It was really hard when it happened. I was struggling with myself," she said. "I had to question it, `Where are my priorities now?' It definitely threw a curveball. But it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Sitting on the sidelines, it's tough, but you see it from a coach's perspective. I appreciate the game so much more because it was taken away from me. I never would have seen that. To have gone that whole 180 and be playing again and playing at a high level ..."
Forword is again playing at a high level, just when the Tar Heels' money player needs to be. She scored three goals on five shots in two NCAA tournament games last weekend, helping Carolina reach the field hockey final four this weekend in Winston-Salem.
It's the sort of ending she envisioned when she decided to attend North Carolina back in 2005. Forword attended high school in London and knew she wanted to travel for college. She didn't have a long list and took a minimalist approach to the recruiting process.
"I was (thinking), `I'll go there, they want me,' and I've kind of struck gold," she said. "Coming to a foreign country, I've really been looked after."
Four months ago, as trainers continued to look after her right knee, she had doubts about being the same player she was. Field hockey has been a huge part of her life and that of her family; her mother and older sister played on the South African national team, and Forword was part of its 2008 Olympic roster.
"In July, I was struggling," she said. "I was like, `There's no way.' It's amazing how it went."
She wears a brace now, but it doesn't seem to be holding her back. Her journey is similar to that of her team's since the 2007 squad finished undefeated in cruising to the program's fifth national championship.
Last season was tough; with Forword out, the Tar Heels struggled to score and lost in the first round of the NCAAs. This year has had some setbacks, though it's tough to call an 18-2 record much of a struggle. But the Tar Heels have high standards; the program has qualified for the NCAA tournament 26 of the past 27 seasons.
"It's always good to be challenged," coach Karen Shelton said. "You do learn from losses. I think our team has shown some resilience."
Forword has been at the forefront of that resilience. Her teammates have seen it first-hand.
"I have to give her so much credit," said junior Katelyn Falgowski, also a housemate of Forword's. "She hasn't been dealt the easiest of seasons thus far, but she has pushed her way through it and has led this team and won't let any of that get her down or won't let that take away from the bond we have.
"She is an example for other girls who are injured or are having struggles or problems. That they can look toward her and realize, `It's OK, you can get through it.'"
Forword said the adversity the Tar Heels have faced will serve them well as the No. 3 seed in Winston-Salem.
"We're prepared for anything, which is a good thing," Forword said. "We've played with players down. We've experienced it all, and now we're on our peak again." Falgowski, who played as a freshman on the 2007 team, said this year, the Tar Heels don't mind if they have to gut it out for a championship. They take on Virginia on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the second semifinal. If the Tar Heels win, they would face the Princeton-Maryland winner at noon Sunday.
UNC had two close games with Virginia (a 2-1 overtime victory in the regular season and a 1-0 loss in the ACC Tournament). In their lone meeting with Maryland, the top-ranked and undefeated Terrapins beat Carolina 4-1.
"It was different. Things just felt easier for us (in 2007), not that we didn't try for it," Falgowski said. "We've had some struggles, some ups and downs. I think that, in the end, that's what's going to make it more sweet. That when the going got tough, we didn't just give up. That we pushed through it and hopefully come out on top."
Forword was part of that 2007 team as well, and she was the top scorer last year despite missing the last eight games of the season. She ranks ninth in Carolina history with 51 goals, including six in her past four NCAA tournament games.
At halftime of the Tar Heels' 4-1 second-round NCAA victory over Wake Forest last weekend, Shelton pulled Forword aside. Wake Forest had scored right before the half ended to cut the lead to 2-1 on its home field.
"I came over to her, right when they were huddling, ... `You're the money player. It's tournament time. Get us a goal.'"
Forword scored about two minutes later. The money player had struck gold again.
