Playing with perspective

For freshman midfielder Molly Kruger, losing a soccer game doesn't hurt quite as much as it used to. \nA losing record and zero Big Ten wins hold a little less importance after nearly losing her life in a car accident in June of last year.\nThe summer before enrolling at IU, Kruger was participating in a soccer tournament in Denver. After an early morning game, her team decided to spend the rest of its day whitewater rafting. But they never made it to the river. \nWhile merging onto the highway, the team's 15-passenger van was struck by another vehicle and catapulted into a ditch before landing upside-down. \nThe accident forced Kruger to wear a halo device to support her head and neck. Her injuries prevented her from coming to IU and kept her from playing soccer for six months. But Kruger's resolve never faltered. \n"I knew that everything happened for a reason," she said. "I had to have faith that everything would turn out OK."\nDuring her recovery she watched soccer games on TV as much as possible. But they were not enough to satisfy her hunger for the game. She had to get closer. \nShe began attending indoor club games as often as possible, but the exposure to the game only intensified her desire to return to the field.\nFreshman goalkeeper Megan Reinhardt was in the van with Kruger during the accident, but only received minor injuries. She watched as rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to slice through twisted metal desperately trying to free Kruger and others from the crumpled van. \nShe watched again when Kruger finally took the field last spring\n"It was really emotional for me to see Molly playing again," Reinhardt said. "From just being able to turn her head again to getting touches on the ball, it just seemed like a tremendous weight was lifted off her shoulders." \nAfter 11 months of waiting, Kruger's moment had finally come. Though she never considered giving up, Kruger wondered whether she would be healthy enough to compete on the college level. \n"The first time I played again was pretty powerful," she said. "It was pretty amazing to think that after all I went through, I was out running and playing again."\nKruger's presence on the team has made an immediate impact. She has started all 10 games for the Hoosiers, leads the team in shots and scored the team's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Minnesota Sunday. \nFellow freshman midfielder Molly Beckwith, who took a pass from Kruger to score the Hoosiers' first goal of the season, is thankful she has the opportunity to play with Kruger.\n"She inspires me a lot," Beckwith said. "She is a real leader on the field and sets an example even for people who have never had injuries. It always amazes me when she goes in hard for tackles or jumps in the air for the ball and comes away showing no pain."\nIU head coach Mick Lyon never questioned Kruger's ability to make a comeback, and is not surprised by her performance so far.\n"Molly is a tough kid," he said. "She has always looked at the bright side of things. Going through something like she did makes playing soccer a little more fun."\nGoing through what she did, Kruger developed a new perspective on wins and losses.\n"I know I have a better outlook now," she said. "At times when we aren't doing well, I just think that there is another game. I know losing isn't the biggest thing. There are more important things than winning a soccer game"