Coming into the 2008 season, Becca Edwards had high hopes.
As a sophomore two years ago, the attacker had scored 37 points on 32 goals and five assists for Penn. There was only one thing that could stop her from topping that honorable mention All-Ivy output.
Unfortunately, that one thing happened: in just the third game of the year against Stanford she tore her ACL, effectively shutting her down for her junior year.
"It was kind of hard to lose Becca since she was one of the few attackers who could create for herself," coach Karin Brower said. "We really missed her last year."
But with the graduation of last year's top scoring duo of Rachel Manson and Melissa Lehman - who are third and 13th in the Quakers' record books with 157 and 102 points, respectively - Edwards will look to regain her form from two years ago in this, her senior year.
As a potent offensive threat, it's no surprise that Edwards' favorite parts of the game are the moments when an offensive play is well executed, complete with a perfect pick, feed, catch and shot.
"It looks beautiful," Edwards said of a perfect play. "It takes a lot of people working together to accomplish and it really ignites the team."
But Brower sees more than just an offensive playmaker in Edwards, noting that she was tied for first on the team with 12 caused turnovers her sophomore year. She also said Edwards' ability to get ground balls creates second chance opportunities for the offense.
Brower especially loves her senior attacker's attitude.
"She's a big gamer," the 10th-year coach said. "She rises to the competition."
No one game epitomizes this more than Penn's game against Princeton two years ago. Playing for their first Ivy League title in 25 years, the Quakers beat the Tigers, 14-10, at Franklin Field to clinch the automatic bid to the NCAAs. And Edwards provided the margin, scoring a career-high five goals.
Ironically, she did that despite suffering a minor knee injury off the opening draw of the second half.
Perhaps Penn will look to that as a sign that Edwards will be in tip-top form as she returns from the ACL tear this season.
Ask the Flourtown, Pa., native and she's quick to say that the injury won't hurt her game.
"I don't think it's affected my style of play," she said.
But she did admit "it's always tough to come back from an injury, because there's always the fear of it happening again."
Edwards missed the team's fall practices, but has practiced normally in its official practices so far this winter. Brower was impressed with her play after scrimmages this past weekend.
That's good news for Edwards, who just wants to get back to her glory days.
"There's nothing like playing," she said. "It's so exciting to be able to do it again."
-Staff Writers Leigh Silver and Jennifer Scuteri contributed reporting to this article.
