By Andy Matarrese
Senior Rachael Rapinoe is out for the remainder of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during the Sept. 9 game against Purdue, adding injury to insult in the 1-0 loss.
"She was shielding the ball down the line and when she planted her foot the rest of her kept going," said Head Coach Garrett Smith.
The loss of Rapinoe, who has had four goals in the team's first four matches, marks the second consecutive year where the Pilots' lost a leading scorer to injury. Last year, Rachael's sister, Megan, fell to the same injury after scoring 10 goals and making two assists in 11 matches.
The whole of the team and staff is very disappointed and saddened about Rachael's injury, according to Smith.
"The results and the team are secondary. Right now we just want to make sure Rachael's OK," he said.
Having never really sustained a serious injury, Rapinoe said that she's found the experience to be very frustrating.
"I'm kind of just learning how to deal with all of this," Rapinoe said. "There are a lot of emotions running in me that I'm not used to having."
Although she's planning on taking a medical redshirt season so she'll be able to play next year, Rapinoe is disappointed that she won't be able to graduate with her class or play with her sister.
Rapinoe said that she and the team are trying to move on and not dwell too much on her injury.
"It's hard for the team and for me to be out, but we still have an incredible team," she said. Rapinoe feels confident in her teammates' continued pursuit of another national title.
"We know that injuries happen," said sophomore Michelle Enyeart. "We have to move on and do what we can to support her in her comeback."
Rapinoe's surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. After her surgery, Rapinoe will have to undergo rehabilitation on her knee for up to six months.
Initially, the rehab will focus on reducing swelling, and icing and wrapping the knee, according to head athletic trainer Kyle Nelson. Then the process will turn to restoring Rapinoe's range of motion and strengthening the muscles in her knee.
The trauma of the surgery greatly weakens the muscles around the knee, and intense rehab is needed to keep the muscles from completely atrophying.
"There are some specific exercises that are designed to put the least strain on the knee itself while trying to increase range of motion," Nelson said.
Usually, athletes are able to return to sport-specific exercises and team practices after about four months.
For Rapinoe, waiting for the surgery has been one of the more trying parts of the process.
"Once I get surgery, that's when the healing starts," Rapinoe said.
While everyone reacts differently to the surgery and rehab process, Nelson said that there is little to no chance that Rapinoe will come back to play at any point during the remainder of this season.
"It's one of those parts of the job I don't like - to have to say 'you're done for the season,'" Nelson said.
"She adds a lot of fire and energy to the field," said Enyeart, adding that Rapinoe's leadership and support will be missed both on and off the field.
