Kiski Area grad Kaylee Elwood overcomes injury, takes prominent role with Cal (Pa.) women's soccer

“The pain that you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that’s coming.”

Those are the words tattooed just above Kaylee Elwood’s right knee. They come from the Bible, the book of Romans, chapter eight, verse 18. They are a reminder of where she has been and a motivator for where she hopes to go.

Elwood, a Kiski Area grad, had her freshman soccer season at Cal (Pa.) cut short after only five games when she suffered a strained MCL in her right leg.

It was a painful blow for Elwood, literally and figuratively. She had started three of those five games and had been on the pitch for all 105 minutes of the Vulcans’ double-overtime loss to Edinboro, the next to last time she would compete in a match for almost a year.

Then came the injury, and although no surgery was required, Elwood faced months of rest and rehab.

“It was a big impact, to be honest,” she said. “I was just getting into the flow with the team, and I was starting pretty much every game at that point. It just sucked. It was awful.”

Elwood was able to put the injury behind her and bounced back with a strong season in 2022. She appeared in 14 of Cal’s 17 matches — making two starts — and recorded her first three collegiate goals.

The goals came in consecutive matches. One was a tying goal in what eventually became a 2-1 Vulcans win over IUP, and the other, three days later, was a game-winner against Pitt-Johnstown. The performances helped her to earn PSAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the week of Oct. 3.

The third goal was a bit less dramatic, a PK in the 42nd minute to pad Cal’s lead in a 2-0 victory over Edinboro.

As the 2023 season nears — the Vulcans host Lock Haven on Aug. 31 — Elwood is hoping to take another big step forward. Coach Pete Curtis, in his sixth season at the helm, is optimistic she can be a force in helping the team get back to the PSAC playoffs, where Cal (Pa.) hasn’t been since 2014.

“All things indicate that she has learned over the past couple of seasons,” Curtis said. “I think she is more physically confident in herself now, as well.”

Elwood admitted she wasn’t confident in the immediate aftermath of the MCL strain. The fear of hurting it again remained in the back of her mind.

As she continued to progress through the 2022 spring season and into the fall, those doubts began to dissipate. Eventually, she said, she was able to put it in the rearview mirror.

Having a clear head enabled her to focus on some new responsibilities. In her first season — short though it was — she played primarily as a holding midfielder. That gave her minimal opportunities to showcase her offensive skills.

Last season, Curtis had her contributing to the attack a little more. Given the Vulcans’ 2023 personnel, he said, she could get even more looks at the goal.

“She’s equally adept at either (offense or defense) depending on the formation we’re playing,” he said. “And that’s a good thing because she’s tactically versatile, which is always a bonus.

“She’s always had the skill. She’s always had good touch on the ball. And now, I think, given the makeup of the roster and the team, I think she’s going to have more of an opportunity to express herself offensively.”

Which comes back to those three goals last season. All three came on penalty kicks. It was a role, Elwood said, she fell into almost by default.

“No one else wanted to step up and take them (in practices),” she said. “So I was like, I’ll just do it because I used to do it in high school, too.”

Elwood’s strong leg seems to make her a natural for the duty. She also continues to heed the words of a former coach to help her be successful on PKs.

“My cup coach throughout high school always told me to never cross my body,” she said, “so I always have that in the back of my head: ‘Gotta listen to him.’ ”

The thought made Elwood laugh. But laughing is a lot easier now that her injury issues are no longer a factor, and she will need to take that positive attitude with her as the Vulcans embark on the new season.

The Vulcans, who went 6-7-3 in the PSAC (6-8-3 overall) last season, had their fair share of roster turnover. The seniors who graduated helped the team take a huge step in the right direction after Cal finished 3-12-1 in conference in 2021.

Elwood will be among the players leading the way for the group.

“We lost a few very good seniors that definitely helped out the team,” she said. “So we’re just going to have to come up with a different style of play, and if we connect on and off the field, we’ll be fine.

“I’m hoping to do big things with this team. … The main goal is to make the playoffs because Cal U has not made the playoffs in a while.”

If the Vulcans can achieve that goal, Elwood can revel in the joy, and the pain of her injury can be forgotten.