After suffering a torn ACL in her left knee, Taylor Watt missed nearly all of last season for Lincoln-Way Central.
Back on the field this spring, Watt isn’t playing scared or feeling tentative about returning after a major injury. In fact, it’s the total opposite for the senior defender.
“I feel like coming back from the injury, it’s giving me more energy to go up there and win the ball in the air,” Watt said. “It’s got me motivated to take advantage of every opportunity and go after every ball.
“I never had a chance to do that last year, so I’m hungry for it now.”
Watt put all that desire on display Friday night. The Millikin recruit scored two goals on headers off corner kicks and led a dominant defensive effort as the Knights rolled to a 3-0 win over Marist in the championship game of the 32-team Windy City Ram Classic at Reavis in Burbank.
Maddie Krynski also scored for Lincoln-Way Central (5-0), while Jules Rafacz dished out two assists. Ella Forystek and Aly Sudkamp teamed with Watt to lead the defensive effort in front of Flynn Meyer, who made two saves for the shutout.
It’s the second straight Ram Classic title for the Knights.
Anna Budz and Addison Woodward each had a shot on goal for Marist (4-1), which was playing in the program’s first Ram Classic final. Giuliana Conte made four saves.
Watt, meanwhile, felt comfortable stepping back on the field last week for her first competitive game in a year. She was confident she had taken the rehab process in stride and stayed mentally strong.
“I took the injury really well,” Watt said. “I worked every day. I’m happy to be back with this team and the new coaching staff is amazing. I love the energy on this team.”
Watt started the scoring just under five minutes into the game, heading in Rafacz’s corner kick. The Knights’ third goal, with 23:36 remaining, was a carbon copy as Watt headed home Rafacz’s cross on a corner.
Watt is up to four goals on the young season, and her teammates know she’s a player to target.
“Taylor’s amazing,” Krynski said. “We can always count on her on all the set plays. We practice that. We say, ‘Get it to Taylor’s head.’ She’s great.”
In between Watt’s header heroics, Krynski scored a key goal of her own, delivering early in the second half to give the Knights some cushion with a 2-0 lead.
“It was a tense game — 1-0,” Krynski said. “We just needed one more and we knew we’d settle in. I saw the open net on the other side and I took it. It was awesome seeing it go in.
“It’s my favorite feeling ever.”
Watt took care of the rest. Besides the scoring, she turned in her usual dominant effort in the back.
Breanna Bembenek, in her first year as Lincoln-Way Central’s coach, is thrilled to see Watt back and playing at full throttle.
“No fear from her,” Bembenek said. “She’s definitely one of our leaders. She’s working with Ella (Forystek), a freshman, on that right side. Ella has just totally taken to that leadership from Taylor.
“That’s been huge for us on defense.”
While Watt was able to shake off the injury and focus on being ready for her senior season, the worst part was not getting to play with older sister Madi during her last year of high school.
Madi graduated last spring and is now playing at Eastern Illinois. But she certainly still inspires Taylor.
“It was very emotional not getting to play with her during her last year of high school but I know I’ll play with her again in the future,” Taylor said. “It definitely feels different here without her, but I’ll see her off the field and she always supports me.”
