Kerrin Maurer returns after scary car crash

On January 21, a terrible car crash threw the St. Anthony's girls basketball team for a loop, as four starters were injured.

One of them, Kerrin Maurer, suffered a broken ankle and a fractured pelvis, and missed the team's run to the state Federation Class A title game. But the senior, who had surgery on her ankle just four days after the crash, returned to the lacrosse field yesterday morning in the Friars' impressive 15-7 win over West Islip.

Maurer (pictured playing basketball) entered the game to cheers from her teammates with 11:08 to go in the first half. Last year's CHSAA tournament MVP only played until halftime and didn't score, but she was certainly glad to be back on the field.

"It's good to be back helping my teammates," she said. "It's just frustrating because my body isn't used to not being able to do certain things."

Though Maurer wants to go full steam ahead — after a goal, she pleaded with coach Corinne Lomangino to take the draw to no avail — she knows she has to "pace herself," which her doctors have told her.

The Friars (2-0), the two-time defending Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA champs, have already proven themselves as one of the top teams on Long Island, and they believe they'll only be stronger once Maurer is playing at full strength.

And that's pretty hard to argue.