The term 'knee injury' has been known to make players shudder, coaches cringe and fans sigh, but for the Ohio soccer team it has been in common usage leading up to this season.
Both outside back Larissa Najjar and defender Elyse Merchant underwent knee surgery on their ACLs this year and are not seeing any action. Najjar started in 15 of 17 games last season and scored one goal while collecting six assists. Merchant, who was playing her first season for the Bobcats, appeared in 15 games and made four starts in 2005.
The Bobcats have done their best to reload and replace their two fallen teammates.
Obviously
someone had to step up for me said Najjar, and I think Erika Schmitt's doing a nice job at that. We have a lot of other younger players that could easily step up so I think we'll be fine.
Schmitt, who has spent most of this year on defense despite leading the team in shots taken a year ago, said she feels the transition has been relatively smooth.
It's definitely a different mentality
she said. I think it's working out better than I thought it would. There's still issues with organization but I think it's going pretty well.
Kate Fledderjohn, who was also asked to change positions, made the transition from midfield to defense in the spring and said she agrees with Schmitt's assessment.
It's definitely been a learning experience
Fledderjohn said. I feel like I can give people breaks. I gave Kristen Miller a break Sunday. It's an option that brings depth to the team.
Depth should be a valuable commodity for the Bobcats as neither of the injured players plan on seeing the field this year. Merchant is currently rehabilitating at home and Najjar, whose surgery was in April, is in the later stages of her rehabilitation.
I'm going to do a medical redshirt because I'm not even at five months yet
and you're supposed to be at six months before you get to full strength
she said. So I'll take this year off. I'll probably practice at the end of the season but I won't play.
Ohio's biggest test of the season will come this weekend when they travel to Xavier tonight and return to Chessa Field to take on undefeated Pittsburgh on Sunday. Although it may seem that having fresh faces in different places would hinder the Bobcats going into a stretch of two games in three days, the team doesn't seem to be concerned.
I think playing games is really helpful
said Schmitt. Every game I learn something or see where a problem is. I just think the experience is great.
17
Archives
