SEO: Blacked out and concussed, Laura Williams

Faulty equipment injures teenage soccer player

Freshman gets concussion moving soccer goal at practice
By Rebecca Sikora
The Annapolis Area Christian School Junior Varsity soccer team stepped on the
pitch for another September practice at Severna Park. With 20 minutes left of practice,
the coach asked the girls to move the goals for the next drill.
The goals were old, rusty and slippery because of rain. The team lifted the goal
and the bars shook, showing how loose the screws were. Laura Williams, high school
freshman at the time, was holding the back bar of the goal at the wrong time. When
Williams let go, the bar came loose and fell on top of her head. Five seconds later
Williams regained consciousness.
I woke up to my coach and teammates staring down at me as rain hit me in face,
Williams said. Her coach moved her to the
side, where she rested the remainder of
practice. By the time her father arrived to
take her home, a massive bump formed on
the left side of her head.
As soon as I saw her and saw the size of
the lump, I knew we were going to the
hospital, Lauras father, Keith Williams
said. I was just worried about Laura.

A concussion does not hold Laura Williams back. She shows

her competitiveness as she breaks the tackle of two
defenders while heading down the soccer field to score a
goal. Photo source Laura Williams.

(more)

Blank space
Laura had forgotten every detail of the drive to the hospital. Williams called the
drive a blank space. The doctor diagnosed her with a concussion along with her broken
nose, black eye and facial swelling.
Laura only had to sit out for a couple weeks. With her competiveness though, not
playing felt like an eternity. When the swelling
All about Laura Williams
Nickname: Laurbabe
Favorite food: Crabs
Favorite TV show: New Girl
Dream Job: PR agent for
Jennifer Lawrence or work for
Jimmy Fallon
Favorite social media: Twitter
Fun fact: She won best sense of
humor in high school

diminished, she put on a plastic facemask, played in the

next game and every game after. Today, Laura
Williams, now a junior communication major at the
University of Maryland, still has the competitive spirit
that helped her overcome the concussion. Im an
athlete, so thats all I know, to play the game.
###