‘She’s been an unsung hero’: Keck’s return from knee injury solidifies QND’s pursuit of state title

QUINCY — Lying on the turf with athletic trainer Kyle Leapley tending to her right knee, Anna Keck could have had the “oh, no, not again” scenario running through her head.

Instead, she focused on “get me back out there” thoughts.

“I didn’t want to let my team down,” said Keck, a junior defensive midfielder for the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team.

During the first half of Tuesday’s Class 1A Columbia Super-Sectional against reigning state champion Belleville Althoff, one of the Crusaders inadvertently stepped on Keck’s knee after she had been knocked to the ground.

“It was kind of a relief it wasn’t on the bad knee,” said Keck, who suffered a significant injury to her left knee last season. “But it was still a knee.”

That was reason for trepidation and a lengthy wait on the field before Keck walked off on her own.

“When I went down and she stepped on my knee, I walked off and figured I’d let Kyle look over it and hopefully it’s nothing big,” Keck said. “I wanted back in there.”

There was no serious damage to the knee, and Keck returned to the field and played a critical role in holding Althoff scoreless for 100 minutes. That allowed QND to finally score in the 93rd minute and earn a return trip to the state tournament with a 1-0 victory.

With it comes the chance for Keck to experience the state tournament on the field, not from the sideline.

“Last year, I felt like I kind of let my team down,” said Keck, who suffered the knee injury in the state semifinal loss to Elmhurst Timothy Christian and missed the third-place game entirely. “It was hard just sitting there watching them. This year, I think I can make a big impact on the field.”

She already has. Heading into Friday night’s Class 1A state semifinal against Normal U-High, Keck and the Raiders have not allowed a goal in eight consecutive games.

“Last year, the opportunity wasn’t there for me,” Keck said. “Sure, I was there, but I didn’t get to play. I didn’t get to help my team. So this year, it’s very exciting for me because I want to know what it’s like to play.”

Having knocked out Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Althoff in the past two games, the Raiders have given themselves a chance to do more than. QND is in position to fight for a state championship.

“This team is very determined to get what we want and what we’ve been working for this whole season,” said junior midfielder Avery Keck, Anna’s twin sister.

This time, the Kecks relish the opportunity to chase their title dreams together.

“Last year, it was hard for me to be out on the field with her on the sideline,” Avery said. “Playing with her is a great experience. Playing with your sister is just a great experience. It really was hard after everything happened, but it was hard for her and hard for our team.”

After recovery and rehabilitation, Anna appeared on course to be a factor this season until a momentary hiccup put everything on hold.

During a workout in February, during which she wasn’t wearing the brace on her left knee, she suffered another injury to the same knee.

“My thought at that point was we lost her for the year,” QND coach Mark Longo said.

Anna immediately went to work rehabbing the knee, and within a month, she was ready for the season opener against Quincy High School.

“She hasn’t missed a beat since,” Longo said.

Keck helps control the middle of the field, moving up on the attack when needed and constantly circling back defensively. Her play often isn’t noticeable, but her presence is undeniable.

“She’s been an unsung hero,” Longo said. “She doesn’t get the stats. She doesn’t get the glory. She gets out there and busts her butt.”

But it hasn’t been without some worry.

“At the beginning of this season, I was kind of nervous to go out there,” Anna said. “I was recovering and there was a concern I might have to get surgery before the season starts. So I was really nervous to play on it and know what it felt like. Having Avery out there was really nice. She was pushing me and supporting me. It was so nice.”

That support has been unwavering.

“I think our relationship really shows on the field,” Anna said. “We know deep down how each one of us plays. It’s fun to be out there together.”

It’ll be even better on the state’s biggest stage.

“Playing at state is a wonderful experience,” Avery said. “This year, she gets to experience that with me and with our team.”