After returning to the soccer field just seven months after surgery to repair a torn ACL in her right knee, Marist’s Annie Callaghan knows she’s not yet the same player she was before the injury.

The junior defender hopes having to adjust her game in the short term will make her a better player in the long run.

“There are some things I can’t do right now that I’m used to doing,” Callaghan said. “I’m not as fast or skilled, but that’ll come back in time. Right now, I can’t just make one move and take a quick shot, so I might look to make a pass instead that I wouldn’t normally make in that situation.

“I’m learning how to do other things so when my normal skills do come back, I’ll be more well-rounded.”

Callaghan tore her ACL in an Olympic Development Program game in June. She had surgery in August and was back on the field for the RedHawks by the second week of the season in March, playing with a brace on her knee.

“After it happened, I was walking on it and thought I’d be fine to play the next week,” she said. “We went to the doctor to be sure, they did a MRI and we found out. I was scared at first, and it took me a bit to get in the right mindset because it was a long process.”

There were plenty of frustrating moments on the road back.

“It took four months to run,” Callaghan said. “I needed help going up and down stairs. It was weird being like that, but I learned how to be patient with myself. I know now that if I can’t do something, I’ll keep working at it and eventually get there.”

After leading Marist in scoring each of the last two seasons, Callaghan has just one goal this year.

However, her physicality has greatly aided the RedHawks’ defense and her big leg helps Marist transition to its offense.

“She’s playing at probably 65 percent, and she’s still so huge for us,” Marist coach Chris Roe said. “She’s a vocal leader for our defense.”

Welcome additions:Stagg (14-2) has been greatly aided by three players who joined the team after playing strictly club soccer last season.

While Purdue recruit Ally Mussallem gets most of the attention, sophomore forward Agnes Lojek and junior defender/midfielder Maggie O’Leary have also been valuable additions.

Lojek complements Mussallem well offensively, while O’Leary has been a key part of a defense that’s recorded 13 shutouts.

“Maggie gives us such a good presence in the back, because she’s so confident,” Stagg coach Allison Kaim said. “She distributes the ball so well from back there, too, and she’s just solid overall.”

O’Leary said she was eager to be a part of this Chargers team.

“I knew it could be a really special season for us,” O’Leary said. “I’ve had a lot of fun playing for my high school and playing with this group of girls.”

Seeds planted:While the top three seeds for the Class 3A Reavis Sectional — Stagg, Andrew and Lincoln-Way Central — were essentially no-brainers, there was intrigue surrounding how the rest of the field would be seeded.

Surging Homewood-Flossmoor was awarded the fourth seed after a key win over fifth-seeded Lincoln-Way West. Lincoln-Way East, Eisenhower and Sandburg rounded out the top eight.

Lincoln-Way West coach Jeff Theiss likes his team’s position. The Warriors won a sectional as a No. 4 seed last year.

“Being in that 4-5 game allows you to sneak up on people a bit,” he said. “There’s a lot of parity in this sectional and several teams that could win it.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.