KENT, Ohio — When Karli Paracca tore her ACL prior to her senior soccer season at Mars High School, she wondered if she tore up her college scholarship with it.

Paracca was coming off a junior season that produced 38 goals, 27 assists and an opportunity to play soccer at Kent State University after high school.

Then she suffered the injury playing club soccer for Northern Steel the following summer.

“I remember how nervous I was calling my (Kent State) coach to tell him what happened,” Paracca said. “I didn't know how that stuff worked.

“I was afraid my scholarship might be taken away.”

To the contrary, it was reinforced.

“Karli was already heavy into rehab on that knee,” Kent State coach Rob Marinaro said. “We already knew what kind of person she was, let alone the caliber of soccer player.

“There was no doubt in our mind she'd come in here healthy and ready to go.”

Paracca said she was relieved when the coach told her to “just stick with the rehab and we'll see you here next year.

“I was blown away by it, actually,” she said.

The Golden Flashes' faith in Paracca proved to be worthwhile.

She delivered three goals and an assist her freshman year. Two of the tallies were game-winners, including one against Colorado during an early season tournament in Las Vegas.

“Colorado was one of the top teams in the country and for me to get the winning goal against a program like that so early in my college career ... That was probably the biggest goal of my career,” Paracca said.

While Paracca did not score a lot of goals at Kent State — 10 in her four-year career — she scored some big ones.

She scored in overtime to beat Eastern Kentucky as a sophomore. She scored an overtime game-winner against Pitt her junior season.

“Karli scored some huge goals for us,” Marinaro said. “Colorado was in the Top 25 when her goal beat them. Last year, in the (Mid-American Conference) final four against Central Michigan, she tied the game for us.

“That Colorado game was a huge win for our program. We were consistent winners during her career here and Karli was a big reason for that.

“She's exactly the type of kid we want in our program,” he added.

Kent State won the MAC championship tournament in Paracca's junior year, putting together a 15-3-2 record. The Golden Flashes won the regular season title another year while she was there.

Kent State was 49-22-10 during Paracca's career. She has a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in physical education, sports performance. Paracca hopes to become a personal trainer.

“She will succeed in whatever she does,” Marinaro said. “That young lady is the sweetest, kindest person you can run across. She lights up a room when she comes in.”

Besides playing a key role in a winning collegiate soccer program, Paracca was part of a Mars program that won WPIAL and state championships while she played.

“My teammates made me a better player in both high school and college,” Paracca said. “I was so fortunate that way. And I love competition. That always made me strive to become a better player.”

She described Kent State's defensive play as “incredible” and loved how the Golden Flashes amped up the intensity level late in games or in overtime.

“We were always pushing each other to win,” she said. “Our teams were so competitive, so intense. I loved it. There was no more satisfying a feeling than scoring a game-winner with these girls.”

Marinaro never doubted his decision to welcome Paracca into the Kent State soccer family, torn ACL or otherwise.

“It was a no brainer,” he said. “Karli was going to do everything in her power to recover. With her personality, determination and work ethic, I never questioned her coming all the way back.

“She didn't prove me wrong.”