BEATING ADVERSITY
INDIANA — A torn ACL isn't supposed to be a good thing.
Brenna Gallagher turned it into one regardless.
The Seneca Valley High School graduate and Indiana (Pa.) University women's lacrosse player tore her knee's anterior cruciate ligament three games into her senior season with the Crimson Hawks. A defender throughout her career, she was moved to midfield at the start of that season after a teammate had suffered a concussion.
Gallagher tallied five goals from that position before her senior campaign was suddenly cut short.
“She was playing great,” IUP lacrosse coach Mindy Richmond recalled of that 2015 season. “Brenna was on pace to graduate that spring and she had a decision to make.
“Maybe go for her master's here, pick up a second major ... or just graduate and move on.”
Gallagher decided to stick around — particularly after talking to former teammate Colleen Berlin.
“She was our senior captain the year and tore her ACL,” Gallagher said. “She decided not to come back after that.
“She told me she regretted it, that she should have gotten full use out of all of her eligibility. That was all I needed to hear.”
Gallagher had knee surgery scheduled a week after she suffered the injury.
“At that point, I knew she wasn't done,” Richmond said.
Through her academic adviser, Gallagher discovered she only needed 25 credits to complete a double major. She was already on target to graduate with a degree in child development and family relations.
By returning for a medical red-shirt season this spring, she tacked on a degree in sociology and human services.
She tacked on a few other things to her collegiate career as well.
Returning to her defender position, Gallagher wound up becoming first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, All-South Region and second team All-American. The Crimson Hawks finished 13-6, reaching the PSAC semifinals for the third time in four years.
“If it wasn't going to benefit me academically, I wouldn't have done this,” Gallagher said of coming back. “I know I can't play lacrosse forever.
“My parents totally supported me on this. They've been great about everything.”
Gallagher led IUP with 53 ground balls and is leaving with the second-highest total in program history. She tied for the team lead with 26 caused turnovers, was second with 63 draw controls and is graduating as the program's all-time leader with 73 games played.
She also scored 21 career goals on just 35 shots.
“Brenna never got the individual notoriety for her on-field achievements before this year,” Richmond said. “Her comeback was extraordinary.“I had no concerns about her mental state coming back because she's such a tough kid. I've had other players return from torn ACLs who were never the same mentally. They come back and play scared. Brenna was never scared of any of this.”Only eight months after surgery, Gallagher was medically cleared to return to action. She rehabbed five days a week, two hours per day, at Revolution Physical Therapy in Cranberry Township all summer.“I didn't come back for the personal accolades, though I appreciate them,” Gallagher said. “It was for the experience of another year with my teammates. I needed the proper closure that way.“I didn't want to go out with an injury. I wanted to go out my way.”And Gallagher isn't through with lacrosse yet.She is pursuing her master's degree in organizational management next academic year at Misericordia University in northeastern Pennsylvania, where she will serve as a graduate assistant women's lacrosse coach.Gallagher has also coached for five years with the Intrepid Lacrosse Club in Pittsburgh.“Nobody wants to get injured, but getting hurt made me appreciate the game more,” she said. “There's no doubt about that.”
