Schuckman: Donning jersey one final time sends Hawks’ Autry out right way

Emilee Autry had one very understandable reason to walk away.

She had every reason to stay.

The hugs, tears and joy that enveloped her Sunday as the Quincy University women’s soccer team played its final game of the regular season at Legends Stadium were a reminder she made the right decision to stick it out.

But Autry will tell you she knew that already.

Coming off a crazy, COVID-challenged junior season in which she started eight games at goalkeeper and helped the Hawks reach the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, Autry suffered a significant neck injury in an accident over the summer. It left her in a brace when she returned to campus and nixed any chance of playing this season.

So the senior did what a senior does.

Autry became the ultimate source of support.

She served as a cheerleader, a counselor, a friend, a manager and a coach. She showed up every day, did everything QU coach Samuel Thomas and assistant coach Mackenzie Burrows needed and became the epitome of a teammate and a leader.

“She deserved to be out there every single day,” senior forward Lauren Crane said. “She was here at practice every single day. She did more work than half the girls on this team. We wanted to honor her in any way we could.”

There’s no bigger honor than putting on the jersey.

With her injury healed enough she no longer has to wear the brace, Autry donned the No. 00 goalkeeper kit for a final time for Sunday’s Senior Day matchup with William Jewell. She was announced as the starting keeper, and when the Hawks kicked off, they booted the ball back to her.

She settled it, took a knee and then was swarmed by her teammates before leaving the field for the final time in her career.

“I broke down immediately,” Autry said. “It’s so nice. Obviously, it’s not how I wanted my senior season to go. So just being able to put my jersey on again was really special.”

It elicited so many emotions.

“Wild, but also great,” Autry said. “I wore it for three years, so it’s like my baby. This jersey is my baby.”

The idea of giving Autry one moment to celebrate a career in which she won 20 games, posted 16 shutouts and helped the Hawks make two GLVC Tournament appearances was born from past experience. In 2019, senior midfielder Alex Severino suffered a torn ACL, but was in the starting lineup and on the field for the opening kick on senior day.

So when the subject was broached about doing the same ceremonial start for Autry, Thomas reached out to the game officials and William Jewell coach Cory Herchenroeder with the idea. They were completely supportive.

So with a break in Sunday’s barrage of thunderstorms allowing the teams to get the game underway, Autry spent 12 seconds on the turf field for the final time.

They just might be the most unforgettable 12 seconds of her career.

“Amazing,” Autry said. “I’m blessed.”