Alexis Bengel

My name is Alexis Bengel and I am a sophomore on the women's soccer team at Pitt. In 2014 during my junior year of high school I suffered my first major injury which was tearing my left ACL. After a long recovery process I began to feel like myself again. I got an offer to play Division 1 soccer at Pitt which was extremely exciting because I love the school and it is very close to home. My knee felt great and I was ready to take on this new challenge. It felt like everything had finally fallen into place. Unfortunately right before I was due to report for preseason I suffered an ACL tear to my right knee. The thought crossed my mind of, will I ever play soccer again? But I was determined to keep fighting. I had been through this injury before so I knew what to expect. It was a very difficult first year in college for me, but that was not going to stop me from getting back on the field. It took me 10 months to feel like myself again. I spent countless hours in the training room doing rehab as well as in the weight room gaining my strength back. It is very hard to sit on the sidelines watching your teammates play knowing that you are unable to be out there with them. My family, friends, teammates and coaches have always been a huge supporter of me during both of my injures and I would not be where I am today without them. Being injured has taught me so much about myself and has given me a different perspective on the game of soccer. You want to cherish every moment you have on the field because at any moment that can be taken away from you. My scars are a constant reminder of the struggles and adversity I have overcome to get to where I am.