Jen Kasel knew something was wrong, but she decided to return to practice. It was early October and a routine shot struck the Syracuse women’s lacrosse team’s starting goalie directly on her right collarbone. Eventually, the pain became too great and head coach Lisa Miller sent her to the hospital for X-rays.

The tests revealed it was broken.

Nearly an entire off-season of preparation was lost. Only back on the field for three weeks, Kasel will be in net tonight when SU hosts Binghamton at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

‘She handled it pretty well,’ said Robert Kasel, her father. ‘But going to practice and not being able to play was very frustrating for her.’

Her patience was tested even further when the injury took longer than expected to heal.

In tune with the standard three-month recovery period for a broken collarbone, doctors originally set early January as Kasel’s targeted return date. But doctors didn’t clear Kasel to play until Feb. 9 because the bone fused together slower than normal.

That meant she only had three days of facing live shots before SU’s only scrimmage against Penn on Feb. 12.

‘One of the things about being a goalie,’ Miller said, ‘is that it takes more time to get back (than other positions). The chaos in front of you takes a lot of time to sort out and find the ball. But after several practices you could see that happening (with Kasel).’

Kasel played one half against Penn, allowing only two goals. She told her father afterward she was very rusty, though.

Robert said she felt more comfortable in last Saturday’s season-opening 17-4 win over Albany. Kasel played the first 50 minutes and allowed only two goals. But she was hardly tested – she faced only seven shots. She did make a save on a point-blank Albany free-position shot late in the first half.

Kasel’s rehab process primarily involved keeping the collarbone immobilized. She did not wear a traditional sling, but rather a larger one fastened around her back.

When she was home for Winter Break, she wore a bone stimulator provided by the team’s trainers. Its purpose was to build strength to the bone.

‘It was either that or putting screws in,’ Robert said.

By that time, doctors allowed her to run on a treadmill to build back her endurance. All other exercise activities such as lifting weights were off limits until she was cleared to play.

Resigned to the sidelines, she turned her attention to helping SU’s only other goalie, sophomore Bethel Steele.

It is not the first time Kasel has been in a teaching role. Eric Hinds, Kasel’s coach her senior year at Mountain Lakes High School in Mountain Lakes, N.J., said Kasel often worked with the younger goalies in practice.

Steele, who played in three games last year off the bench, received valuable experience facing every shot in practice for four months.

‘I’m pretty pleased with Bethel,’ Miller said. ‘She has come such a long way. As much I love Jen, and I wouldn’t wish an injury on anyone, I think it was good for Bethel and good for the team to know that we can survive.’

Steele struggled in her 10-minute appearance against Albany, though. She allowed two goals on three shots.

Kasel insists she is 100 percent recovered, and with a brand new chest protector her father bought and extra padding around her collarbone, the goalie position does not appear to be an issue for SU despite the off-season turmoil.

Her father did offer a clue to anybody wondering if Kasel is feeling any lingering effects.

‘She never flinches,’ he said. ‘So if I watch her play, and she flinches, I know she’s thinking about the injury.’

Published on February 28, 2005 at 12:00 pm