Houston Dash defender Cari Roccaro’s first minutes on the field are possibly a few days away as she prepares for a road trip to the Midwest for a match against FC Kansas City on Saturday (7:30 p.m. CT; HoustonDashSoccer.com/live). The fifth overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft played her entire senior season at Notre Dame with a torn labrum in her hip and had surgery to repair the injury at the beginning of the year.
The decision to have surgery just as she was set to begin her professional career challenged the defender to maintain a positive outlook and prepare for a rehab process that was projected to keep her on the sidelines for half the season.
“Before I had the surgery, I heard that the recovery time could be four to six months. It kind of freaked me out and I didn’t know what my timeline would be like,” Roccaro said. “I knew I could do my homework before hand and do some pre-rehab. I worked every day, whether it was pushing through the pain as I ran or did other fitness drills, on the elliptical machine or doing yoga. I did a lot of muscle building exercises for my groin and hip.”
Roccaro is almost a month ahead of schedule and she credits the work she did before the surgery for her quick recovery.
“I was always doing something before the surgery and that kind of prepared me for it,” Roccaro said. “I went into the surgery fit and ready. I think my muscles were very strong so by the time I came out, I was ready to go home and focus on my rehab. That’s all I focused on, I took care of my body and I believe that made a difference.”
The East Islip, New York, native participated in her first full-contact practice on April 26. She took part in various drills and an 11v11 scrimmage in which she cleared various crosses and displayed a physical approach on the back line.
“[Practice] was very different. Usually I was on the side doing random running or agility,” Roccaro said. “It was cool to finally do the drills, touch the ball, be able to communicate with teammates and be able to play possession games, get contact. It was a new look but it feels good to compete with this team.”
Head coach Randy Waldrum is keen on providing Roccaro an opportunity to get match fit, if the game situation allows. For Waldrum, the fact that the defender is almost a month ahead of schedule justifies his push to select Roccaro with the team's first pick in January.
“The good news is she got cleared to start playing now. When we drafted her, we thought it could be as late as June. So she is way ahead of schedule,” Waldrum said. “It is good to see her on the field and she is going to make a great addition when she is ready to go. This is why we selected her. Her competitive spirit is hard to match.”
The Notre Dame product was one of the 19 players that made the trip to Portland for a preseason tournament against NCAA and NWSL competition. This was an early sign of her advanced progress and it gave her an opportunity to build relationships with her teammates over the weeklong trip. Now as Roccaro anticipates her debut, she plans to rely on her teammates to combat the nerves that come with the first few minutes or seconds on the field.
“I’m very excited [for the opportunity to make my debut]. I thought I was going in the last game,” Roccaro said. “For each game I’m thinking ‘Am I going to get in, is this my chance?’ For my eventual debut, I don’t know if it will be this weekend or not. I think that I just need to avoid those butterflies. I know that this team will support me and if Randy thinks I’m ready then I should be confident in his decision.”
Two of Roccaro’s teammates that will support her have a limited English vocabulary. Like many other Dash players, Roccaro’s attempts to communicate with Portuguese-speakers Poliana and Andressa can be described as an adventure. The defender has spent time off the field connecting with the Brazilian tandem and expects that to translate on the field as she plays beside Poliana and behind Andressa.
“I was playing with them in 11v11 today and I made passes to both of them. Quite a few actually and they came up to me afterwards and told me they enjoyed when I took the chance to play them a ball,” Roccaro said. “I think our relationship off the field definitely does help. I think both of them have been more outgoing and happier here. They were shy at first and now I think their outgoing approach will help them play at their best. That’s what a teammate should do, bring the best out of other players whether she is playing or not.”
The Dash return to BBVA Compass Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20 to host Alex Morgan and the Orlando Pride in what will be the first of two trips to Houston for the NWSL’s newest franchise. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDashSoccer.com/tickets.
