Goals are common for Carmel senior forward Emily Fix.
So are injuries, however.
“I’ve always been super injury prone, even when I was little,” she said. “I was always smaller than everybody else, so I got beat up. I don’t know how long my injury log is, but I’ve broken every bone possible, it seems.
“As I’ve gotten older, it has become muscle tears, always tearing a muscle. I’ve had knee problems really bad for years.”
But Fix, a Marquette recruit, is injury-free as she begins her second season as a starter for the Corsairs, who have the potential to win the East Suburban Catholic Conference title and contend in Class 2A, especially if she remains healthy.
“I’ve learned how to take care of my body,” she said. “I also grew more and settled more into my body.”
Fix offered a glimpse of Carmel’s potential during its season opener on Wednesday. She was involved in all the Corsairs’ goals in a 3-2 road win against Grayslake Central, scoring twice and setting up junior forward Anna Hartman for the winner midway through the second half.
“Emily is a game-changer,” Carmel coach Stephanie Kile said. “Anna and Emily are two of the most competitive players I have ever coached. Emily is dangerous with the ball in front of the net. I’m excited to see what she can do this year. She makes her teammates so much better.”
Hartman, another elite player who had 15 goals and 21 assists last season, said she has developed great chemistry with Fix, who joined the program for the first time last year.
“Emily is very aggressive, and if the ball is somewhere near her, she’s always in the right place and right there,” Hartman said. “She always makes the runs, and it’s easy to pass the ball when someone is always making the run. She takes the shot when she needs to or takes the pass.
“Last year, when we played Grayslake Central in our first game, the first goal was my assist to her goal. From the beginning, she was pretty easy to connect with. Now a year later, we know where we are going to run without even seeing each other.”
After not playing for Carmel during her first two years there, Fix changed club teams and decided to suit up for her high school last season. She made her mark quickly and finished with 18 goals and eight assists.
“I loved representing my school and bringing attention to Carmel and getting closer with the girls who play soccer at my school,” she said.
Kile said she pushed Fix to add a few more elements to her game this season.
“This year I’ve challenged her to have more of a leadership role,” Kile said. “She has stepped up and done a wonderful job so far this season.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
