March 29, 2002
By Shaili Shah
Maryland Athletic Media Relations
As the Terps' 2001 season was slipping away in the final minutes of the Dayton game, freshman Kimmy Francis wanted more than anything to strap on her shin guards and cleats and take the field, to give Maryland an opportunity to win the game.
However, Francis remained on the bench, hindered by a torn ACL and Maryland fell to Dayton, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"It was frustrating not being able to help the team out when I wanted to," Francis said. "Soccer is one of my highest priorities and my injury taught me never to take things for granted."
Francis, a recruit from Council Rock signed with Maryland in the spring of her senior year, prior to tearing her ACL on April 19, 2001 during a high school game. The injury sidelined this NSCAA and Gatorade Pennsylvania State Player of the Year for Maryland's 2001 women's soccer season and kept her out of action for the United States Under-19 national team as well in 2001.
The U-19 national team is composed of a pool of talented female soccer athletes from all over the country who compete at the highest level for their age group, according to U-19 head coach Tracey Leone.
Fully recovered from her injury in 2002, Francis might be called up to represent America for the U-19 team, which will compete in the CONCACF qualifier this May in Tobago. If successful in the qualifier, the team will earn a berth to play in the 2002 Junior World Cup Championships, to be held in Canada in August.
"I saw Kimmy play at a U-19 ODP Regional event," Leone said. "She was clearly one of the best out there in terms of fitness level and energy. She has tremendous personality on the field."
Going through a vigorous eight-month rehabilitation period, Francis focused on getting her knee back to full strength. Everyday after school, Francis made a one-hour drive each way to the Schweizer's Rehabilitation Center located in Delaware, to see her trainer. Once there, she would train for three to four hours at a time mixing up her workout with weight training and low impact, high resistance therapy in water.
"I am amazed at how fast Kimmy was able to recover from her injury," Leone said. "That dedication just shows her focus and commitment at getting back onto the field."
For Francis, physical therapy was a slow, hard process. A competitor, she was accustomed to going out on the field and producing results. Francis was a NSCAA All-American and in her four years, Council Rock posted an 80-4-3 record, capturing the Suburban One League championship four times.
"Rehabilitation was definitely not fun," Francis said. "In the long run, I feel that my trainer not only helped me get back to my level of performance, but even further. I feel more conditioned, I am faster and stronger."
Francis will be a key component for the 2002 Terps. Finishing last season at 10-7-2, Maryland lost five seniors to graduation, including goalkeeper Ali Wolff, a NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team selection.
However, the 2002 Terps bring back a strong squad, led by sophomore captain Lindsay Givens, a Soccer Buzz All Mid-Atlantic Region Team honoree. Additionally, juniors Carly Viher and Sally Harrison, both of whom were sidelined in 2001 due to injuries, are cleared to play
"We are going to be a different team this season, I envision a better team," Shannon-Higgins-Cirovski, Maryland women's soccer head coach said. "We have a talented pool of freshmen coming in and Kimmy gets to be a part of that and define herself with the incoming class."
Furthermore, Higgins-Cirovski sees Francis emerge as a leader on the field next year.
"Although she never got a chance to play for Maryland yet, Kimmy brings her experience from the U-19 team and from the other clubs she has played for," Higgins-Cirovski said. "Not only can she score herself, but she has the ability to make those around her better. She has the potential to be an All-ACC selection."
