The appreciation of the ability simply to play lacrosse resonates clearly in Georgia Carroll’s voice.

A finally healthy body has allowed her to play it well, and the results have been just peachy for NESCAC champion Middlebury.

Carroll, a senior attacker, has overcome three procedures on her left knee and a stress fracture in her right hip to lead the Panthers into the NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse championship weekend in Salem, Va. As one of three team captains, elected by teammates after last season in a move that arguably preserved her lacrosse career, she’ll try to help Middlebury avenge a regular-season loss to The College of New Jersey at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Salisbury will play defending champion Gettysburg at 11:30 a.m. in the other semifinal, and the winners will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday. (Semifinals at a glance.)

“In the fall my surgeon told me it was likely my knee wouldn’t make it through the whole year,” Carroll, who tore the ACL and meniscus in her left knee after playing in eight games as a freshman, said. “I made a conscious decision to move forward no matter what, and it was liberating. All of the experiences I have had have made me more grateful to be on field.”

Ditto coach Kate Livesay, and the rest of the Panthers. They’ve seen Carroll emerge from a preseason unknown into a critical and cerebral cog in their offense. She ranks second on the team with 38 goals and third with 18 assists, often putting passes to cutting teammates on the money or beating goaltenders with precisely placed shots.

“She’s so dialed into our play and what we need to do as a group,” Livesay said. “She challenged us as coaches early to make it clear what we needed, and she’s been able to demand that of herself and her teammates to make it happen. It’s been an amazing growth process in one year. I’m so glad she stuck it out.”

Carroll, who started playing lacrosse at a young age in Baltimore thanks in part to older brothers Forrest and Galen, almost didn’t. She wouldn’t have been human not to consider moving on from lacrosse given an injury bug that bit with frequency, significance and brutal timing.

Recruited to Middlebury as part of former coach Missy Foote’s last class and in part to join her brothers there, Carroll arrived with the skill set and smarts to contribute. Livesay first learned of her at a recruiting event, when Franklin and Marshall coach Mike Faith foretold the incoming coach that Carroll would be “really good.”

“I was like, ‘Who?’” Livesay said, with a laugh. “As a freshman, right away it was clear she had great skills. It was a little less clear that she was ready athletically, given the speed at this level. But she contributed early.”

Carroll flashed her talent with a three-goal, one-assist performance in game six, earning subsequent starts against Washington and Lee and conference rival Amherst.

“I had a great fall, was loving the team, had a really good game and then started against W&L,” Carroll said. “I was so excited.”

As quickly as the future seemed to arrive, it ended with the torn ACL and meniscus. Carroll underwent surgery in June and began physical therapy geared toward returning for her sophomore season.

But the meniscus repair failed when stitching broke, leading to a procedure in January 2016 to remove most of the meniscus. Doubts about her future began to creep into Carroll’s mind. She approached Livesay about the possibility of sitting out her sophomore season.

“She sat me down and said, ‘Georgia, it is such a privilege to be on this team,’ and pretty much left it at that,” Carroll said. “I really appreciated her bringing that reality check to me. It kept me from feeling sorry for myself.”

Carroll played, but in just five games. She was on the sidelines watching when her teammates won the national championship over Trinity.

“I tried to stay engaged, but it was discouraging,” Carroll said.

Junior year offered hope, and more flashes of potential. Carroll started nine games and played in 13, contributing 14 goals and nine assists before the proverbial wheels once again fell off. Only this time, it was the other wheel. A stress fracture had developed in Carroll’s right hip. While it didn’t require surgery, it did require rest. Season over.

“With the culmination of everything on my left knee, my right side compensated,” Carroll said. “That was tough. I definitely questioned if my body could handle lacrosse.”

Carroll finally verbalized those questions in a conversation with current co-captain Hollis Perticone shortly after learning of her hip injury.

“I told her I didn’t know if I could do this anymore,” Carroll said. “She talked me down and helped me understand it was more of a mental challenge.”

In a team sport, if ever a single player needed individual recognition, at that time it was Carroll. And her teammates and coach were there to provide it, electing her a captain.

“That was one of the proudest accomplishments of my life,” Carroll said. “It gave me the motivation to go through another round of PT. It was a saving grace for me, to have my hard work recognized. I’m so thankful to them.”

So Carroll once again began the road back, which unfortunately was not without a detour. Scar tissue had built up in the knee and began affecting the joint. She underwent a procedure in the fall to clear it up, but she got herself in good shape beforehand and was fully ready by the time her final season began.

She still had to prove herself on the field, though.

“It was hard to gauge what impact she would have because she’d been hurt the last three years,” Livesay said. “But she put it out there with her play and her commitment to our group effort. She prepared well — with the PT, in the weight room, with her conditioning, and her mental game. She’s huge for us on every level. It is nice to see her become such a leader and important part of our attack. Her vision and feeding are amazing.”

“I have teammates who were players of the year, and I’m coming in as someone no one knows about — that was huge advantage,” Carroll said.

Carroll exploited foes from the start, amassing three goals and four assists in a season-opening win over Bates. Not only did Carroll make it through the whole season, she tallied at least one point in every game.

Perhaps no longer an unknown, she’ll have to be on her game tomorrow against the Lions’ backer defense and frequent double teams. But for Carroll, she’s already overcome the most significant of challenges.

“Mentally it’s been easier this year,” she said. “There’s no pressure; I just go out and do the best I can. People said I wouldn’t make it through season, but here I am. It’s been great.”

Semifinals at a Glance

Salisbury (21-1) vs. Gettysburg (19-2), 11:30 a.m.

How the Sea Gulls Got Here: Def. Meredith (19-11), Denison (16-4) and Trinity (9-8).
Stat Leaders: Krissy Murphy (29G, 43A), Dana King (47G, 20A), Allie Hynson (84 DC), Gianna Falcone (7.24 GAA, 53.5 sv%)
Quoting Coach Jim Nestor: “Gettysburg is very strong on the draw. Defensively, we’ll need to be tight on our marks inside because they feed so well.”

How the Bullets Got Here: Def. Westfield State (19-4), Mary Washington (16-5) and Amherst (13-10).
Stat Leaders: Katie Landry (21G, 52A), Katie Wills (49G, 19A), Steph Colson (122 DC), Bailey Pilder (5.74 GAA, 61.1 sv%)
Quoting Coach Carol Cantele: “We have to match [Salisbury’s] physical intensity. They have players that can shoot quickly, on the catch. We have to see them before they’re behind us.”

TCNJ (20-2) vs. Middlebury (19-2), 2:30 p.m.

How the Lions Got Here: Def. William Smith (8-2), Bowdoin (13-7) and F&M (9-6).
Stat Leaders: Olivia Cleale (29G, 65A), Alexandria Fitzpatrick (56G, 2A), Elizabeth Morrison (106 DC), Miranda Chrone (4.00 GAA, 57.5 sv%)
Quoting Coach Sharon Pfluger: “We’ve had a healthy, great competition with Middlebury. There’s a tremendous amount of respect there. We have to play hard and smart.”

How the Panthers Got Here: Def. Babson (18-5), Illinois Wesleyan (18-4) and York (11-10).
Stat Leaders: Emma McDonagh (47G, 20A), Kristen Murphy (29G, 27A), Hollis Perticone (134 DC), Julia Keith (6.66 GAA, 48.0 sv%)
Quoting Coach Kate Livesay: “TCNJ forces you into a feeding game, and you have to be precise. If you’re not, they’re picking up the ground ball and they’re on their way.”