FIVE hundred goals — that’s the incredible milestone that lies within a handful of strikes for Albury United’s super-boot Alicia Torcaso.

The girl who first played senior soccer when she was just nine has 496 goals ahead of today’s game against ladder-leading Boomers and tomorrow’s clash against St Pats.

The magic milestone is even more incredible, given a surgeon’s prognosis in 2008 that she wouldn’t play soccer again — might walk but would struggle to run.

Torcaso has won six golden boots since playing regular senior soccer at the turn of the century and spent two years playing for South Melbourne in the premier league.

As a nine-year-old, she signed to play juniors at Myrtleford but the women’s team found itself short of players.

“My first game of soccer was in seniors — mum has the photos of me running around with all these women, I still can’t believe it,” Torcaso said.

But her darkest moment came late in 2008 when a clash with the goalkeeper at Melrose Park left her out cold on a wet pitch, unable to move.

“I knew it was broken straight away — it snapped the tibia just below the knee, screwed up my knee pretty badly as well,” Torcaso said.

“The surgeon was pretty sure that I wouldn’t play soccer again, may be able to run but not well.

“I spent three months in a wheelchair and, six months after the first surgery, they found the bone wasn’t straight.

“I had a second operation in February, 2009.”

Boomers’ head coach and soccer stalwart Stephen Hayes said her achievements were without parallel.

“Alicia has set a standard for goal-scoring that I doubt will be equalled — at least not in my lifetime,” he said.

“She has the rare ability to convert opportunities and has done so over a long period.”

Her coach at United, Dave Smith, said Torcaso was also a great leader.

“Alicia always trains and plays with a real passion for the game,” he said.

“Her simple motivation is to play her role in the team to the best of her ability.

“As a person, she has thrived in the leadership role at Albury United.

“And as a striker, her outstanding record says everything.”

Albury City coach Pete Hovar said Torcaso’s on-field presence was as important as her goal-scoring prowess.

“Not only does Alicia consistently score important goals but she also has an on-field presence on and off the ball that generates opportunities for herself and her team,” he said.

“To score 500 goals at any level takes some doing and, after sustaining a significant injury, it is a testament to her fortitude.”

Steve Foden was her coach at Myrtleford when she broke her leg.

“I have never seen a more motivated player, male or female and I have coached for 38 years,” he said.

“In November, 2009, I helped rehabilitate Alicia along with my daughter Shannon.

“Both had suffered nasty injuries to their legs.

“They both hit the field again in 2010 with new club Albury United.

“Again that year, Alicia’s first back from injury, she won AWFA golden boot and Albury United won the senior women’s championship.

“She is an amazing story.”

For Torcaso, the equation is simple — she scores goals, her teammates help get her there, the defenders stop other teams from equalling their score.

“It is a team game — we all have a role to play,” she said.

“I’ve played with some great players — I’ve scored 169 goals at United. Someone has helped me in 169 different ways.

“You don’t score them on your own.

“If I get the 500, there will be no handstands — hopefully, just some hugs from my teammates.”