Navy's Paul tears ACL, likely gone for season
No. 6 Navy's 8-7 overtime loss to No. 13 Loyola Saturday afternoon was doubly painful as the Midshipmen (1-1) will likely have to finish the remainder of the season without senior attackman Tim Paul.
Paul, the team's leading scorer last year with 32 points on 18 goals and 14 assists, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, Navy coach Richie Meade confirmed Monday afternoon. Paul suffered the injury with about two minutes left in regulation and did not return. The Parkton native and Loyola graduate underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam Saturday evening, and the bad news was delivered Sunday.
"He’s got a torn ACL," Meade said. "Some guys play with that, but we just don’t have enough information yet. That’s usually four months [of rehabilitation] after the operation and a full year before you’re back. So I don’t think Timmy’s going to play for us this year."
This is the second serious injury in as many seasons for Paul, who sprained his left ankle last spring and missed four starts. Meade said that Paul has dealt with back and shoulder injuries over the past two years.
Paul, who scored one goal against the Greyhounds, had posted two goals and two assists this season. His absence would seem to put more pressure on senior Brendan Connors (one goal and two assists) and junior Andy Warner (5, 1) to lead the attack.
"That remains to be seen," Meade said of Paul's loss to the offense. "Obviously, when Timmy’s playing 100 percent, he’s an All American-caliber player. We have a couple younger guys. [Sophomore] Ryan O’Leary came in and played for Timmy. He was a highly recruited kid. He just hasn’t had an opportunity yet. We also have [senior] Kyle Kapron who had a great fall and [sophomore] Taylor Reynolds who has played quite a bit and is a smart player. We’re going to have to see. ... We played scrimmages in the fall and early spring without Timmy playing. So we have a plan on extra-man. We’ve just got to put another guy in there and play."
Comments
very sad story, great player Tim Paul
Posted by: dl | February 22, 2010 8:37 PM
Oops, another ACL job. I guess everyone hopes to escape this type of injury - surgery, rest, rehab. but you gotta be lucky.
Posted by: freeline | February 23, 2010 7:21 PM