After double leg surgery in 2013, Sarah Keer worried she might never be able to play field hockey again.

She first had to learn how to walk again, but after intensive rehab therapy, a brief setback, and a year of competition lost, Keer returned this past season to become the fourth-leading scorer for the Temple University Owls.The two-time Times News Field Hockey Player of the Year who helped the Lehighton Indians win a state championship as a freshman, began to experience pain in both her legs during the start of her first college season."I had this burning sensation whenever I would stop and start my runs," Keer explained. "I tried to play through it, but it got so bad, I needed to get it checked out."Keer was diagnosed with a condition called Compartment Syndrome. Excessive pressure and swelling built up inside the muscles of her legs because the connective tissues that form the walls around these muscles were unable to expand. That prevented adequate blood flow to the areas. Surgery on both legs was performed to relieve the pressure."Our coach at that time suggested I redshirt a year until I recovered," Keer said. "It was so difficult for me. Growing up, I played all kinds of sports and I never had an injury that set me back."Keer didn't pick up a hockey stick again until March of 2014."I was pretty much a mess during the whole down time," she said. "I could barely move my feet after the surgery, and then I had intensive treadmill conditioning."Her complete recovery would not happen just yet. The inside stitches in her legs caused an infection and further surgery was needed.""My teammates helped get me through the seven months of the ordeal," Keer said.Keer is also diabetic, which might have complicated matters even more."If anything, my injury kept me more in control of my diabetes because I knew I would heal faster if I ate the right foods to control my sugar level numbers," she said.Keer's return to the game would not be an easy transition from her year of disability. There remained a risk that the surgery was not a final cure and the same injury might occur again.College field hockey is much faster and more physical than the high school game. Because of that, Keer played sparingly at first to work her legs back to full strength."Then we got a new coach for the 2015 season, so I knew I would have to go out and prove myself all over again," Keer said.And prove herself she did.After playing 16 games as a reserve and scoring one goal during her sophomore year in 2014, Keer had an outstanding junior campaign. With the leg surgeries more than a year behind her, she played in all 21 games in 2015, starting four times. She finished the season with four goals and an assist, tying for fourth on the team in both goals and points.Keer's contributions and playing time continued to increase this past season. Despite having to play through some post-surgery swelling in her legs, she started six times and played in all 19 games during Temple's 7-12 season. Keer led the Owls in assists (six), shots (54), and shots on goal (32). She was also fourth on the team in points (10) and scored one game-winning goal."When I took over the program, I preferred to evaluate Sarah's abilities after she finished her rehab rather than base it on her high school reputation," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. Freeman was impressed with what she saw."Sarah has a powerful skill set. She's a commanding forward, strong with the ball, and plays with relentless energy."Freeman added that Keer's knowledge and experience of the game will be an asset to the philosophy of play that Temple will employ next season."We play a very aggressive schedule," said Freeman. "Sarah's very competitive in her nature and we will look for her leadership as well."Because Keer received a redshirt year after missing most of her freshman season with the leg problems, she has a fifth year of college field hockey available to her.She is going to take advantage of it to play another season in 2017 and pursue her graduate degree in sports management.With her problems behind her, Keer has turned those negatives into a positive"I am super determined to make my final season a good one," Keer said. "I think now every time I play, I will play the game like it's my last one. I'm a more positive person and I have a lot of confidence in what I can do."