Ashlee Libby’s return from injury has sparked Seneca Valley girls soccer’s PIAA tournament run
Ashlee Libby was less than a game into her junior soccer season when she thought it might be over.
In the first game of the season against Cumberland Valley in August, the Seneca Valley forward came off the field with pain in her right knee.
“I was scared that I might miss out on the whole season,” Libby said. “If I did come back, I may not be myself on the field.”
The injury turned out to be a strained MCL, and for the next seven games, Libby supported her teammates from the sideline.
“I went to every practice and every game, didn’t miss a thing,” she said. “The team was doing well and I was happy about that, but I was excited about getting back.”
Libby returned to the field in a section game against North Hills in mid-September. It was in the second half of a game against Fox Chapel the following day when she knew the injury was completely behind her.
“Fox Chapel is a really good team. They hadn’t been scored on all season, and I scored two goals (in a 2-2 tie),” Libby said. “I felt like myself again.”
Libby’s presence has made an already-strong team even more potent. Despite missing nearly a third of the season, she is tied with Cassie Leonard for the team lead in goals with 13, including a hat trick in Tuesday’s state playoff win over Altoona.
“Ashlee has some creative moves with the ball at her feet,” SV coach Mark Perry said. “Teams know she is a goal scorer, and she causes them a lot of problems.”
The Raiders (15-3-2) face Conestoga in a PIAA Class 4A quarterfinal Saturday in Chambersburg.
Karly Majeski has added 10 goals for SV and Maddie Marcotte paces the team with 11 assists.
“We have a lot of talent on the team and on top, we all work so well together and that leads to more scoring chances,” said Libby, who was named All-WPIAL as a sophomore after scoring 18 goals. “I’m proud of the team and am confident that if we play our game, we have a good chance moving forward.”
Libby has played for Beadling Soccer Club since the sixth grade and has a goal of playing collegiately at the Division I level. For now, she is focused on attacking high school defenses.
