The first few steps that senior Corey Green took on Colby's Bill Alfond Field were tentative ones. The memories of a bad landing, a torn ligament, a missed sophomore season and a catch-up junior one were still too fresh.
The rest of her steps, however, were just fine.
The senior assisted the game-winning goal in her first start since tearing her ACL on that same field two years ago.
"I was nervous that first moment when I stepped on the field, just being back there again," Green said. "The last time I was there, it wasn't fun."
It was the team's season opener in 2005 and Green was getting her first career start. With two spots open on the front line left, Green and classmate Ileana Casellas-Katz seemed to be perfect fits. But a misstep sent Green to the turf, and what turned out to be a torn ACL ended her sophomore season.
Green returned to action as a junior, but competed for a spot with a then-seasoned sophomore class and a wealth of freshman forwards.
"It was hard coming back last year after missing a whole season," she said. "I really wanted to come back strong this year and prove to myself and to the team that I could do it. I want to contribute everything I can to helping the team win."
Back in Waterville on Saturday, Green made the most of the d?©j? vu moment to do just that. She set up Casellas-Katz three minutes into the second half to break a 1-1 tie and lift the Jumbos to a win in their season opener.
"Corey is developmentally a really advanced player," Casellas-Katz said. "She uses the field really well. She'll cut middle and I'll cut wide, and we're very good at communicating. She also just has a lot of energy out on the field; she's really fired up to be back."
