ADAMS TWP — As a freshman in 2008, Mars forward Kristen McKenzie helped the Planets make the WPIAL girls soccer playoffs by scoring a team-leading 13 goals.

That's quite an accomplishment in itself. But McKenzie has another story to tell, one that includes more than just team wins and goals scored.

Three years ago, McKenzie was playing for Mars' seventh-grade team in a game at North Allegheny. A little more than minute into the contest, McKenzie was running at full speed when she collided with a Tigers player.

"I blacked out for about 40 seconds and when I came to, I tried to stand up and it was like my right leg had two knees," said McKenzie. "An ambulance came to take me to the hospital. The pain was excruciating."

McKenzie had suffered fractures to the tibia and fibula in her right leg.

"When I got to the hospital, they took my shin guard off. I remember looking down and it's a moment I will never forget," she said. "There was a huge jagged bone about to break through the skin."

When McKenzie left the hospital, she had a cast up to her hip.

Two weeks later, she needed surgery after one of the bones in her leg shifted.

McKenzie admits she doubted she'd ever play soccer again.

"I figured I was done," she said.

Six months after the injury, she progressed to a cast that rose to just above the knee.

"That's when I started physical therapy," said McKenzie. "I did a lot of stuff to strengthen the muscles because my leg had lost all of that.

"The pain from the physical therapy wasn't as bad as when I got injured, but it was still pretty bad. After a while, I got to the point where I could start jogging," she added.

McKenzie's hard work in rehab allowed her to return for her eighth-grade season, though her mind was on more than just playing soccer.

"I thought it was a miracle that I was back on the field and I was extremely happy," she said. "But there was part of me that was also scared to get back out there.

"My teammates thought me coming back was incredible," McKenzie added. "They've always been there to support me."

She showed last season that the injury hasn't taken away her playmaking ability.

"I never imagined that I'd lead the team in goals," she said.

So far in 2009, she's tallied five goals and an assist for Mars (7-2-1, 5-2-1).

"After that injury, to be still willing to be out there against a lot of kids that are two years older than she is, it's amazing," said Mars coach Blair Gerlach.

McKenzie would love for that to be the end of her story, at least from a recovery standpoint, but that isn't the case.

After the injury, McKenzie took painkillers prescribed by her doctor, then she took over-the-counter medication. They began to damage her kidneys.

"Both of my kidneys started to shut down," said McKenzie. "My kidneys are OK now, but I can't take any more pain medication for the rest of my life."

The injury caused her right leg to be two centimeters shorter than the left, which has led to hip and back problems. The best she can do is use ice packs when the pain intensifies.

"I've asked myself so many times what would happen if I got hurt on the field again, now that I'm not able to take anything for the pain," she said. "My parents didn't want me to play, but I just love the game so much."

An injury like McKenzie suffered might be more difficult to get over mentally than physically.

"When we play at NA, I start thinking about what happened to me and I'm sometimes hesitant on the field," McKenzie said. "But, for the most part, I'm able to not think about it when I'm out there.

"I learned not to take things for granted. I play with my heart every time I take the field."