If you'd have told Raelyn Callahan a year ago that she would have scored in a Worcester State University vs Keene State College soccer game... she would have probably believed you. What she may not have believed was that she would be putting it in the back of the net for the Lancers, and not the Owls.
Callahan has had what some may call a non-traditional college experience, and she's only in her sophomore year. After a semester at Keene State, she transferred to Norwich University in Vermont before finding herself in the blue and gold this fall. It seems like she is settling in as a Lancer, and her most recent performance this past Tuesday against her former school stood out.
Not only was it impressive because it came against KSC, but also because Callahan had missed the four prior games due to an ankle injury that has been bothering her for the entirety of her college career. "Last season I had a bad sprained ankle, and then I would kind of play on it, put ice on it, tape it", she explained. "And then this season I hurt it again". But there was no way she was going to let that stop her from taking on her old teammates. She was determined to be out on the pitch to help the Lancers take on the Owls. In a bit of a unique experience, Callahan acknowledged that playing her former team was "a little awkward but that's kind of how it is. I'll always love that team". While she'll always love that team off the field, Callahan was all business between the lines Tuesday night. In the 38th minute teammate Erin Condon laced a shot off of the crossbar, ricocheting into the air in front of the net. Callahan took the opportunity to head the ball right into the back of the net to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead. The friendly competition against her former teammates was most definitely still on her mind as she realized "the people on defense, I knew every single one of them so... whoops".
It seems for Raelyn Callahan neither an ankle injury nor a change in uniform will stop her from contributing on the field this fall. Catch her and the Lancers Women's Soccer team Saturday morning at 11 am as part of Worcester State's Homecoming Saturday as they take on Fitchburg State University in conference play.
By Chris Wright