Quentin Milligan returned to Republic earlier this week for only the second time since suffering a torn ACL and torn meniscus at Republic a year ago.
Ozark's 3-1 COC-opening win over Republic was actually Milligan's second trip to Republic in as many weeks. He and his teammates also played at Republic in a jamboree the week before.
It didn't escape Milligan’s attention beforehand that he was returning to the site where his junior season ended before it could ever get started. He injured a knee in a summer camp at Republic last year.
"Coming back here, I didn't think about it too much because my recovery went so well and I'm a very focused person," Milligan said. "I just knew we needed to come here and get our job done."
Milligan, a senior defender, was part of Ozark's defensive effort that shut out Republic in the second half en route to a 3-1 victory.
Milligan's comeback ranks highly in the eyes of Ozark's training staff. He received clearance to return to action March 11 and has been on the go ever since.
"His recovery process was a great one," Ozark coach Zack Owens said. "Our trainers told us that he was actually one of the best recoveries they have ever seen and he was one of the hardest workers they've seen, as far as working to recover."
"The rehab process was intense and very good," Milligan said. "I'd like to thank (Ozark trainer) Chad Link. He and the entire training staff helped me so much. I would not be where I am now without them."
Caleb Sandgren was among Milligan's teammates who felt initially Milligan understandably would return a bit timid. He's been happy to be proven wrong.
"I was honestly expecting him to come back a little slower and not completely in it because of the type of injury he had," Sandgren said. "But he has come back stronger than we thought. He's controlling the whole back line."
Owens has also been impressed that Milligan hasn't been gun-shy about engaging in contact.
"He takes that on as a challenge," Owens said. "He understands his role and likes to be physical."
Milligan, who had two assists in Ozark's season-opening trip to Chaminade, has made sure to play with the same aggression he displayed prior to his injury.
"Whenever you don't get in as hard as the other person is when you are more likely to get injured," he said.
Milligan's focus at Republic centered on standout midfielder Marco Donjuan. Donjuan upped his goals count to five by scoring in the first half. But with Milligan shadowing him, Donjuan couldn't even get off a strong shot on goal in the second half.
"Marco is a great player. But one of his weaknesses, just like we have players on our team with weaknesses, is he is right-foot dominant," Milligan said. "When we find out what foot the other player is dominant with, we try to push them to the other foot, so we don't let them get their ideal shot."
