Senior midfielder Acacia Walker seriously injured her knee last Saturday, but could play as early as this Saturday or be sidelined for two or three weeks.
The Terrapin women’s lacrosse team may need to get used to playing without its arguably best player.
The serious left knee injury suffered by senior midfielder Acacia Walker in warm-ups prior to the Terps’ 14-7 win over North Carolina Saturday kept her out of the rest of the game and has left her status questionable for Sunday’s game against Syracuse, according to team spokesman Adam Zundell.
“She’s going to try to give it a go,” said Zundell, who added that Walker has been fitted for a brace.
The Terps will play in the ACC tournament semifinals next Friday, when Walker could still be sidelined.
“We’re waiting to see. She’s definitely going to do rehab, and maybe we’ll see her back in a week or two,” said junior midfielder Delia Cox. “We’re all hoping for the best and thinking positively about it right now.”
Zundel nor Cox revealed the specifics of Waler’s injury. Walker leads the Terps with 32 goals and 38 points.
Terp coach Cindy Timchal was also not available for comment yesterday.
Despite Walker’s absence, the No. 7-ranked Terps (9-5, 2-2 ACC) played one of their best overall games this season. It was the Terps’ first win in six tries over a top-10 opponent.
If Walker is unable to play Sunday, the Terps will need bench players such as sophomore attacker Krista Pellizzi or Cox to again provide a scoring punch.
In addition to being named ACC Player of the Week, Cox was recognized nationally by Inside Lacrosse as the National Player of the Week for her four-goal performance in the Terps’ impressive victory over the Tar Heels.
“I was trying to work hard, and it’s a nice feeling [to be honored],” Cox said.
If Cox’s past performances against Syracuse are any indication, more individual success is on the horizon. Last season, Cox led the Terps over the Orange 14-11 with a six-goal outburst. As a freshman in 2003, she tallied two goals and an assist in the Terps’ 8-7 overtime win.
The Terps did not practice yesterday and will continue preparing for Syracuse today.
“We practiced hard the last two days, and I think they just wanted to give us a day off mentally and physically to rejuvenate before we go into the next few big weeks,” Cox said.
