Finally, Emma Amberg is fully healthy and ready to end her soccer career at Lemont in style.
As a freshman in 2021, Amberg scored a team-high 15 goals, but tore his ACL in the regional championship game. After missing most of his sophomore season, he returned but suffered double fractures in his hips, sidelining him again and affecting his junior year.
Now a senior forward, Amberg returns with a new appreciation for the game.
“Now I really understand what my passion for soccer is,” Amberg said. “When you think about having an anterior cruciate ligament surgery take away almost a year and a fractured femoral neck taking another six months away from you, you know how much you'll miss it when it's gone.
“You want to get back on the field and play every second. Now, every time I step on the field, I'm here to win, and I'm here to play for the team.”
Amberg is also playing at a pretty high level. She scored a hat trick Thursday night to lead host Lemont to a 4-0 victory over Revis in a South Suburban Conference crossover game.
Eastern Illinois freshman Casey Kittredge also scored for Lemont (9-3, 4-0 SSC Blue). Daria Kosloski and Western Michigan freshman Ella Simpson each had an assist, and Lauren Tracy had a shutout.
Derianna Arocho made five saves for Reavis (6-7-1, 4-2 SSC Red).
For Amberg, who is committed to competing on Carthage's soccer and track teams, a great night on his home field felt like everything had come full circle.
“I tore my ACL on this field and now I'm back here and I got a hat trick and I'm fully recovered from my injury so it's one of the best feelings ever,” Amberg said. Ta. “It's already my senior year, and I'm thinking, 'Now it's my turn.'”
Lemont coach Rick Plangen is also excited to see Amberg back at full strength.
“She worked hard to come back and is finally healthy,” Plangen said. “She's been a great player since she was a freshman, and that's what you want to see as a senior. She's probably been our most consistent player this year. She's doing a great job.”
Amberg, who scored 16 goals and had 14 assists last year, has nine goals this spring despite missing the start of the season while recovering from a hip fracture.
“Coming back from injury is one of the most difficult things I've ever gone through,” Amberg said. “It’s great to be able to make a big impact on the team again.”
Amberg scored twice in the first half Thursday and completed his hat trick midway through the second half.
Kittredge was most impressed by Amberg's third goal.
“I loved her left-footed goal,” Kittredge said. “Early in the game, I heard their coach say, 'Oh, she's on her right foot.'” Let her stand on her right foot. She thought, “Emma, you have to finish with her left foot.''
“When she scored, I yelled, 'She's left footed!' That was really fun.”
Kittredge scored Lemont's other goal with a header off a corner kick by Simpson.
Kittredge also helped lead a dominant defense that kept Revis from taking shots on goal.
On the other hand, Amberg is not only making a name for himself as a player. She is also involved in coaching and works with the middle school team at First Nazarene School in Lemont.
She coached three of her current teammates who are currently freshmen.
“When I saw them come to tryouts, I thought, 'Are you guys on my team yet?'” Amberg said. “That was one of the craziest things. It means something to be able to coach girls who are going to have an impact on Lemont beyond their four years here.
“That's pretty special to me.”