Three surgeries and just short of two years of rehabilitation later and the former Triton Central record-setting goal scorer is back playing for a soccer championship.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. at Carroll Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indy Eleven (8-1-1) hosts NC Courage U23 (11-0-1) in the United States Soccer (USL) W League championship.
Dewey, Indy Eleven’s leading scorer despite missing several weeks to rest her surgically-repaired right knee, is still not at 100% but has been a force for the squad since returning late in the season.
Indiana’s prep goal-scoring leader after tallying 257 career goals at Triton Central had a hat trick in Indy Eleven’s regular-season finale win over St. Charles FC that secured the USL W League’s Valley Division title.
In the playoff opener, Dewey (photo) produced a back heel shot into the goal to give Indy Eleven a 2-0 lead on the way to a 3-0 victory over Flint City AFC. She followed that with her team’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Minnesota Aurora FC which pushed her team lead to nine goals scored this season.
Indy Eleven qualified for Saturday’s championship game with a 3-2 victory on July 14 over San Francisco Glens SC at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
A little older now, a little wiser and a little more appreciative about even playing the game she loves so much, Dewey is embracing her role with Indy Eleven.
“I didn’t know if I would even play this summer,” said Dewey Thursday afternoon. “Or if I would play without pain. I am enjoying the moment.
“I am doing what I love everyday so I can’t complain. I will continue to do it as long as I can in whatever capacity that looks like.”
After a stellar playing career at Xavier University, Dewey signed a professional contract to play in Seville, Spain. A worldwide pandemic shut down her first professional soccer season before she ever played a match.
Dewey moved on to a professional team in the Netherlands until a knee injury proved to be much worse than initially feared.
“It was an awkward tackle and I landed on the ground on my knee,” explained Dewey. “It was a hard turf field and it was cold in the Netherlands. I continued playing but I finally had to come off.”
Physical therapy did not work and a first surgery only made the injury worse, according to Dewey. She was in constant pain as she tried to rehabilitate and get back to her Heerenveen squad in the Netherlands.
Another surgery finally made the knee feel better. A third surgery was required to remove two titanium screws that were bothering her while training for her return.
The Indy Eleven head coach is Paul Dolinsky, someone Dewey knew from her club playing days with Indiana Fire. He suggested Dewey join Indy Eleven and a contract was finalized despite her not yet being fully healthy.
“I didn’t do their inaugural season (in 2022) but that would have been cool,” said Dewey. “This second season has been pretty cool to be a part of. A year-and-a-half (of recovery) is a long time coming. I wasn’t sure if I would ever play again. It’s been a roller coaster emotionally for me.”
Despite her years of experience, including internationally, Dewey was admittedly nervous making her Indy Eleven debut so close to home. She played around 70 minutes of the first match and 65 minutes in the second one but her knee became swollen and she had to shut down once again.
“Things are headed in the right direction now,” she said. “I think I could play a full 90 minutes since it is the championship. I am still working on being able to play every week all game long but I am feeling great in terms of being out there and playing.”
As to her playing future, Dewey is unsure at this point. Indy Eleven is continuing to grow its soccer standing as a professional organization which means Dewey could continue playing.
In the meantime, she has been offered a full-time coaching position within the Indiana Fire organization.
“I’m not really looking to play in Europe. It would have to be the right opportunity,” said Dewey. “At this point in my life and my career, I am staying closer to home.”
And if her playing time with Indy Eleven comes to an end, Dewey fits right into the organization as a potential coach on the field or strength and conditioning coach off it.
Dewey’s younger sister, Rachel (photo), also is part of the Indy Eleven roster. An injury in practice earlier this season sidelined her for the year. She is now preparing for her final collegiate soccer season at Western Kentucky as a graduate student after closing out her career at Xavier, where she also played with her older sister – just as they did at Triton Central.
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