When Kaylee Moreland first felt the sharp pain shoot through her shoulder during her freshman year at Piedmont University, she immediately knew it was not just a typical lacrosse injury. Having already undergone two shoulder surgeries before arriving on campus, Moreland, now a senior exercise science major, recognized the severity of the moment before she even made it off the field.
“I couldn’t stop crying,” Moreland recalled. “Due to the pain, frustration of getting hurt again, and the thought of my having to have another surgery.”
What began as a dislocation during a routine game eventually led to a grueling journey marked by four total surgeries, mental and physical setbacks, and the possibility that she might never play again. After her third surgery, Moreland tried to push through, continuing to play as tolerated. But by her junior year, her shoulder could no longer stay in place, even during everyday activities. When she was told she would need a fourth surgery, the news was crushing.
“It was a very serious surgery for someone at the age of 20,” she said. “My doctor told me if I messed it up again, I’d need a shoulder replacement. That’s not the news that you want to hear as a 20 year old, who has so much life to live.”
Moreland did not intend to return to lacrosse. The surgery, coupled with months of painful rehab, had left her emotionally drained and physically uncertain. She spent her junior season on the sidelines, watching teammates play the game she loved, unsure if she’d ever join them again.
What kept her going during the most difficult moments were the people around her.
“My mom and dad were by my side through every surgery,” she said. “At school, my boyfriend Will helped take care of me, where my parents couldn’t. My roommates, my best friend Merryn—they were all there, helping me with everyday tasks I couldn’t do alone.”
Her teammates and coaches played an equally vital role in her recovery, not only supporting her emotionally but finding ways to keep her involved with the team. “They made me posters and signed them, checked in on me, motivated me with kind words,” Moreland said. “Even though I wasn’t playing, they kept me involved in any way possible.”
That role, she explained, shifted from athlete to cheerleader. “I became a cheerleader from the sidelines,” she said. “I cheered my heart out every game and helped push my teammates to be their best.”
Despite her emotional attachment to the sport, Moreland did not expect to return to the field. Doctors had warned her against playing again. But at the start of her senior year, as Piedmont’s roster faced low numbers, something shifted.
“I contacted my surgeon and asked his thoughts on me playing again,” she said. “And slowly, I began working my way back in.”
Returning to lacrosse was not as simple as stepping back on the field. Moreland took a cautious, measured approach. She did not jump into full-speed drills right away. With the encouragement of her coaches, teammates, and roommates, she gradually rebuilt her confidence.
“I was nervous,” she admitted. “I was scared of getting hurt again. But my teammates, coaches, and roommates really helped me get over my fear.”
Moreland’s return was not just about physical healing, it was also about reclaiming a part of herself she thought she had lost. “This experience taught me that I can overcome everything, that I’m mentally tough,” she said. “That through hard work and perseverance, you can accomplish anything.”
As a senior preparing to graduate, Moreland said the injury has reshaped the way she views both life and athletics.
“As an athlete, it has shown me to never take a practice or game for granted,” she said. “You don’t know when it could be your last. And as a person, it taught me to appreciate the little things and soak in every moment.”
Though the scars, both physical and emotional, remain, Moreland is grateful she had the chance to step back on the field one more time. And this time, it is not just about the stats or the wins, it is about the journey, the resilience and the people who helped her make it back.
