A Big Comeback for LePeilbet

After ACL Tear, Breakers' Defender Back in WNT Picture

By Mark Goodman

May 24, 2009

It will be a noteworthy return when Amy LePeilbet puts on the U.S. women’s national team shirt Monday night in Toronto as the Americans get ready to take on Canada.

Amy LePeilbet

Amy LePeilbet has played all 630 minutes this season in the center of Boston's defense. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

It was almost three years ago that the Boston Breakers’ central defender tore the ACL in her left knee while training with the national team. What followed was, by LePeilbet’s admission, a “tough two years.”

The 27-year old says her original goal during her recovery wasn’t necessarily to return to the national team, but simply to return, period.

“When I tore my ACL, I just wanted to get back on the field and get strong,” LePeilbet said. “I just wanted to get back to being active and playing soccer… Now that I’m in the league, [rejoining the national team] definitely was a goal. I’m back playing well and feeling well.”

On May 6 came the announcement that LePeilbet was one of seven defenders called up by national team coach Pia Sundhage. The squad was originally going to be playing Japan in a pair of friendlies, but after the Japanese cancelled their trip stateside, the U.S. scheduled the game with Canada, set to begin at 7 p.m.

It probably won’t matter too much to LePeilbet who’s on the other side of the field. Just being there, wearing the red, white and blue, will be enough.

“It was super exciting when I got the news,” she said. “It’s an awesome opportunity, to say the least.”

After sitting out 2007, LePeilbet returned to the pitch last year with the Southern California-based Pali Blues of the USL W-League. While it took a while to play with full confidence on her rehabbed knee - “the mental battle was bigger than the physical one,” LePeilbet said - she established herself as one of the league’s best players.

In the W-League championship game in Virginia Beach, LePeilbet scored the Blues’ equalizer - heading it past FC Indiana keeper and current Breakers teammate Kristin Luckenbill - in the 83rd minute of the team’s 2-1 win. LePeilbet was named the game’s MVP.

Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco saw enough from LePeilbet to make her the team’s first round pick (fourth overall) in the WPS General Draft last October. She hasn’t disappointed, either, playing every minute of every game for a defense that, a 4-0 loss to Chicago April 25 aside, has conceded less than a goal per game.

“She’s been very good,” DiCicco said. “She’s a smart defender. She’s quick to get into the ball. It’s good that she’s being recognized.”

LePeilbet said she and her fellow defenders have learned to play with one another after an initial feeling-out process.

“We know each other a lot better and we understand each other a lot more than the first game,” she said. “We’re finally reaching that point where we’re all comfortable with one another.”

In the middle of it all has been LePeilbet, who says she feels “100 percent” healthy.

“I feel good. I don’t really think about my knee too much, which I take as a good sign,” LePeilbet said.

The Breakers will take it as a good sign, too.

Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.