Katelyn Alexander has aptly handled everything that has been thrown her way this season. The sophomore midfielder has battled through a coaching change and the challenge of adjusting to a new style of play.
Now, just when things were starting to click for Alexander on the field, her season has come to a premature end.
Alexander suffered an injury to her foot in an away match against Toledo University on Oct. 1, effectively ending her sophomore campaign. On Monday, she underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in her foot.
"The surgery was very successful," coach Michelle Salmon said. "They had to put a screw in her foot, so she'll be non-weight bearing for two months. Then she'll have about two months of rehab and physical therapy."
Junior midfielder Angie Heyer has been playing with Alexander on traveling teams since the two were in middle school. Though the injury affects the X's and O's on the field, Heyer said she's primarily concerned for Alexander as a friend.
"I've been playing with Katelyn since I was in sixth grade," Heyer said, "So it's really hard because I know she's really passionate about the game. I know she really wants to play. She's such a huge asset to this team, so it's tough that she can't play with us."
Unfortunately for Ball State University, the Cardinals will also deeply miss their starting center midfielder on the field. With Alexander's absence, Heyer knows she will be counted on to step up her game.
"I know that my role is to step up," Heyer said. "I'll try to fill her role the best I can. That's what I've been doing the past two years, so I know I can do it. I just have to be confident and rely on my teammates to help me out a little bit."
Alexander was primarily the corner kick specialist for the Cardinals. Her field presence was notably missed last weekend when Ball State dropped its first two conference home games to Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University. In the two games, the Cardinals out-shot their opposition a combined 15-5 on corner kicks, yet they were unable to convert any of those chances into a goal.
"I think you could tell that we missed her this weekend," Salmon said. "Injuries hit every team, and they affect every team. So one of the things that I've been most proud about with my team is the resiliency they've shown throughout the season. All year they've overcome injuries, but any time you lose a center midfielder for the season it means that different players are going to have to step up."
Perhaps most disappointing is that Alexander will not be able to apply for a medical red shirt. Alexander played the entire non-conference schedule and the first four games of the Mid-American Conference season, so her sophomore year of eligibility is lost.
"We would love to [get a medical red shirt]," Salmon said, "but she's played in too many games. The maximum is twenty percent of your season, and obviously Kate put in more than twenty percent."
According to Salmon's timeline, Alexander will be around full strength in late April to early May. Until that time, the coaching staff is planning to take it easy on the sophomore's physical workload.
"We're going to be very cautious with her this spring," Salmon said. "She will need to go through physical therapy, but we're hoping she will be at full strength again around April or May. It's about a four month recovery [after physical therapy], and I think it's more realistic to put her at five months until she's ready to play."
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