University of North Carolina Athletics
Alessia Russo returns to the lineup Thursday for the first time since last October.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Russo’s Robust Return
August 22, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Fifty minutes into the North Carolina women's soccer team's 2018 regular-season finale against Wake Forest, Alessia Russo began her mad dash, looking to beat the goalkeeper to a ball near the edge of the penalty box.
Moments earlier, a similar play had unfolded, only then she jumped over the keeper. This time, Russo felt more certain she could score. So, she continued charging.
By the time she caught up with the ball, it appeared as if she might deposit it into the back of the net. But her initial touch sent the ball into the sliding keeper, whose momentum propelled her through Russo's legs. The collision didn't look that gruesome. It was, however, heard by reporters sitting nearly 100 yards away.
As she fell forward, Russo reached for her right shin, which to that point in her career had withstood countless blows. But lying face down on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park's Koka Booth Stadium, she sensed something was off.
"I kind of knew that it was not just the normal bruise that I've gotten used to, just because of the pain I was in," she said. "I think at that point I knew, 'Maybe this is my end of the season.'"
Russo's premonition proved correct. X-rays later confirmed she'd broken her right leg. She'd undergo surgery on Oct. 29 and miss the team's entire postseason run that culminated in the Tar Heels' first national championship game appearance since 2012.
Now fully healthy, Russo is hoping to lead Carolina back to that stage. The first step in that journey comes Thursday night, when Russo returns for the Tar Heels' season opener against Indiana at the new UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium.
"It's been a long time coming – actually, a very long time coming – with the stadium itself and the season, especially after missing the end of last season," said the junior from Kent, England. "It's going to be really great to be back on the field with the girls."
And they'll surely welcome her return.
Coming off a 2017 campaign in which she was voted the ACC Freshman of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Championship, Russo missed Carolina's first four games last season while helping England capture the bronze medal at the U20 World Cup. Even then, she led UNC in goals (6), shots (59) and shots on goal (27) when she broke her leg.
Russo's injury didn't stop her from being named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year or a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. It did, however, prevent her from playing in her first College Cup. It also kept her from going to England for a full national team call-up in November.
All of that could've dampened her spirits. But she stayed optimistic.
"I could've looked at it in a different way, but then that would've affected me even worse and the team even worse," she said. "You just kind of have to find the little positives in each day and in the circumstances."
One was certainly the performance of Alex Kimball.
The night Russo sustained her injury, Kimball came off the bench in the second half and played what Anson Dorrance called the best half of her career. A few nights later, Kimball received a text from Russo, who explained how she believed her injury occurred so Kimball, a redshirt senior, could shine in her final collegiate games and be selected in the NWSL draft.
Kimball went on to tally three goals and an assist while starting all nine postseason games at center forward. The Utah Royals FC then selected her in the fourth round of January's draft.
"Alex and I were always very close," Russo said. "I have huge, huge respect for her. She really took me under her wing when I got here, and I think when I got hurt it was kind of like my chance for me to take her under my wing."
As she did, Russo started down her road to recovery.
About 7-10 days after her surgery, Russo could straighten her right leg. It took roughly two weeks for her to bend it. Those might seem like insignificant milestones. But she said all the "small wins" encouraged her as she slogged through rehab.
"You look for little things like that," she said. "Yeah, rehab sucks. But each day you're getting closer to getting back on the field."
Thanks to Greg Gatz, the director of strength and conditioning for Carolina's Olympic sports, and team athletic trainer Brandi Schwane, Russo said she started doing soccer activities off to the side during practices in March. Then in early April, she played limited minutes in two of England's three matches at the La Manga U23 Tournament.
Not until this summer did she start feeling like her old self, both soccer-wise and fitness-wise. Passing the beep test, she said, was a small accomplishment. So, too, was making it through preseason training.
"It's been kind of a gradual buildup," she said.
And it's all been leading to Thursday.
Russo again enters the season as a member of the preseason All-ACC team and the Hermann Trophy Watch List. One difference, though, is her role: she's one of three team captains, along with Taylor Otto and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
"I think one of the ways I've always tried to lead has been by example with the little things and the habits we learn in England, bringing them over here," Russo said. "Everyone on our team is a leader in their own way, and I think that's going to be huge for us this fall."
The Tar Heels also figure to benefit from the lessons they learned last season, when they could've very easily been national champions, if not for a few bad bounces against Florida State.
Russo might not have played in the postseason. But she said she took something away from every game. And she, just as much as anyone else on the roster, is determined to make sure this season ends differently.
"ACC champions, regular season champions and NCAA champions would be a dream season," Russo said. "But we know it's not going to come easy at all. Last year we experienced that anything can happen in a final. Getting to the finals, that's almost easier, and then in the final it can go either way.
"(Whatever comes) individually is great, but my end goal for sure is winning the national championship."
Fifty minutes into the North Carolina women's soccer team's 2018 regular-season finale against Wake Forest, Alessia Russo began her mad dash, looking to beat the goalkeeper to a ball near the edge of the penalty box.
Moments earlier, a similar play had unfolded, only then she jumped over the keeper. This time, Russo felt more certain she could score. So, she continued charging.
By the time she caught up with the ball, it appeared as if she might deposit it into the back of the net. But her initial touch sent the ball into the sliding keeper, whose momentum propelled her through Russo's legs. The collision didn't look that gruesome. It was, however, heard by reporters sitting nearly 100 yards away.
As she fell forward, Russo reached for her right shin, which to that point in her career had withstood countless blows. But lying face down on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park's Koka Booth Stadium, she sensed something was off.
"I kind of knew that it was not just the normal bruise that I've gotten used to, just because of the pain I was in," she said. "I think at that point I knew, 'Maybe this is my end of the season.'"
Russo's premonition proved correct. X-rays later confirmed she'd broken her right leg. She'd undergo surgery on Oct. 29 and miss the team's entire postseason run that culminated in the Tar Heels' first national championship game appearance since 2012.
Now fully healthy, Russo is hoping to lead Carolina back to that stage. The first step in that journey comes Thursday night, when Russo returns for the Tar Heels' season opener against Indiana at the new UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium.
"It's been a long time coming – actually, a very long time coming – with the stadium itself and the season, especially after missing the end of last season," said the junior from Kent, England. "It's going to be really great to be back on the field with the girls."
And they'll surely welcome her return.
Coming off a 2017 campaign in which she was voted the ACC Freshman of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Championship, Russo missed Carolina's first four games last season while helping England capture the bronze medal at the U20 World Cup. Even then, she led UNC in goals (6), shots (59) and shots on goal (27) when she broke her leg.
Russo's injury didn't stop her from being named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year or a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. It did, however, prevent her from playing in her first College Cup. It also kept her from going to England for a full national team call-up in November.
All of that could've dampened her spirits. But she stayed optimistic.
"I could've looked at it in a different way, but then that would've affected me even worse and the team even worse," she said. "You just kind of have to find the little positives in each day and in the circumstances."
One was certainly the performance of Alex Kimball.
The night Russo sustained her injury, Kimball came off the bench in the second half and played what Anson Dorrance called the best half of her career. A few nights later, Kimball received a text from Russo, who explained how she believed her injury occurred so Kimball, a redshirt senior, could shine in her final collegiate games and be selected in the NWSL draft.
Kimball went on to tally three goals and an assist while starting all nine postseason games at center forward. The Utah Royals FC then selected her in the fourth round of January's draft.
"Alex and I were always very close," Russo said. "I have huge, huge respect for her. She really took me under her wing when I got here, and I think when I got hurt it was kind of like my chance for me to take her under my wing."
As she did, Russo started down her road to recovery.
About 7-10 days after her surgery, Russo could straighten her right leg. It took roughly two weeks for her to bend it. Those might seem like insignificant milestones. But she said all the "small wins" encouraged her as she slogged through rehab.
"You look for little things like that," she said. "Yeah, rehab sucks. But each day you're getting closer to getting back on the field."
Thanks to Greg Gatz, the director of strength and conditioning for Carolina's Olympic sports, and team athletic trainer Brandi Schwane, Russo said she started doing soccer activities off to the side during practices in March. Then in early April, she played limited minutes in two of England's three matches at the La Manga U23 Tournament.
Not until this summer did she start feeling like her old self, both soccer-wise and fitness-wise. Passing the beep test, she said, was a small accomplishment. So, too, was making it through preseason training.
"It's been kind of a gradual buildup," she said.
And it's all been leading to Thursday.
Russo again enters the season as a member of the preseason All-ACC team and the Hermann Trophy Watch List. One difference, though, is her role: she's one of three team captains, along with Taylor Otto and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
"I think one of the ways I've always tried to lead has been by example with the little things and the habits we learn in England, bringing them over here," Russo said. "Everyone on our team is a leader in their own way, and I think that's going to be huge for us this fall."
The Tar Heels also figure to benefit from the lessons they learned last season, when they could've very easily been national champions, if not for a few bad bounces against Florida State.
Russo might not have played in the postseason. But she said she took something away from every game. And she, just as much as anyone else on the roster, is determined to make sure this season ends differently.
"ACC champions, regular season champions and NCAA champions would be a dream season," Russo said. "But we know it's not going to come easy at all. Last year we experienced that anything can happen in a final. Getting to the finals, that's almost easier, and then in the final it can go either way.
"(Whatever comes) individually is great, but my end goal for sure is winning the national championship."
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
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