After Devastating Knee Injury, Mental Health Support Fuels Soccer Comeback

As she had thousands of times before, Sophie Abbott quickly pivoted and struck the soccer ball as it rolled toward her.

For the then-17-year-old defender, it was an ordinary play. Sophie was competing for both the South Australian National Team and Adelaide City FC as her soccer career continued to gain momentum.

Then she felt her knee give way.

“When I kicked the ball, everything in my knee just blew out,” Sophie recalls. “The pain was so intense that I passed out.” She had torn her ACL, MCL and meniscus.

“I'd never had anything that serious happen to me before,” says Sophie, now 22 and preparing for her senior season as a midfielder with the Cleveland State University women's soccer team.

Following reconstructive surgery, Sophie endured a difficult 18-month recovery filled with pain and setbacks. The long rehabilitation took a toll not only on her body, but also on her emotional well-being.

With the support of a therapist in Australia, she worked through periods of depression and uncertainty.

Cleveland Clinic sports psychiatrist Lindsay Honaker, DO, says these types of challenges are not uncommon among athletes whose lives are suddenly disrupted by a serious injury.

“Sometimes, when someone sees themselves primarily as an athlete, it can be hard to see past that,” explains Dr. Honaker. “It can often lead to depression, anxiety and isolation. When you feel like your identity is completely stripped away, you can feel hopeless during that time.”

Despite the physical and emotional effects of the injury, Sophie remained determined to return to the sport she loved. Eventually, that journey brought her nearly 10,000 miles from home to a junior college in Ottumwa, Iowa, where she stepped back onto the soccer field.

“I had been in touch with several U.S. junior college coaches and told them about my injury. But they still wanted me to come,” explains Sophie. “I wanted a different experience where I could continue advancing in soccer while going to school. That combination isn't as common back home.”

In her first game as a freshman at Indian Hills Community College, Sophie felt a familiar searing pain in her repaired knee. A screw inserted during surgery nearly two years earlier had become dislodged, causing severe bone bruising. While the damage was not as serious as her original injury, it was enough to sideline her for the remainder of the season.

Undeterred, Sophie focused on her recovery and eventually transferred to Johnson County Community College in Kansas. Over the next two seasons, she helped one of the nation's top junior college programs reach the Division II championship game twice.

With at least two years of eligibility remaining, Sophie set her sights on another goal: earning a spot with an NCAA Division I program.

That opportunity came at Cleveland State University, where she enrolled in the fall of 2025. But the transition was far from seamless. Ongoing physical setbacks and struggles with her mental health kept her off the field throughout the season.

The team's athletic trainer eventually encouraged her to meet with Dr. Honaker who also works with Cleveland State University student-athletes through Cleveland Clinic’s Sports Medicine Center.

Sophie says her sessions with Dr. Honaker were transformative. A competitive bodybuilder, Dr. Honaker has also navigated her own serious sports-related injuries and lengthy recovery process.

“She understands things from an athlete's perspective,” Sophie says. “A lot of athletes struggle with their mental health, so it was helpful to work with someone who truly understood that experience. She gave me tools for managing negative thoughts and anxiety, as well as strategies to stay present and focus on what I could control.”

Dr. Honaker says her experiences as both an athlete and psychiatrist often help her connect with athletes facing similar challenges.

“I tell athletes they should never suffer alone,” she says. “Stay connected with friends, family and teammates who can support you. And during recovery, having a clear goal and a sense of purpose can make a big difference.”

Sophie, who will graduate from Cleveland State University in December 2026 with a degree in exercise science, has returned to the soccer field for the Vikings' fall season. She credits her comeback not only to her physical recovery but also to the therapy, medication and personal growth that helped her rebuild her confidence and mental well-being.

“My advice to any athlete who is injured is to view it as an opportunity to rebuild yourself,” Sophie says. “It's definitely stressful, but it gets easier every day. I feel like I'm becoming a better version of myself because of it.”