With the NCAA women's soccer tournament starting today, the No. 3 Penn State women's soccer team will likely be without one of their captains.

Yesterday, while surrounded by her teammates, junior co-captain and midfielder Ali Krieger hobbled off the practice field on crutches with a leg injury.

Krieger suffered the injury during Wednesday's practice.

"I'm not confirming or [denying] that it's a broken leg," Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins said. "She was injured in practice, and she's day to day right now."

Wilkins would not comment on whether or not Krieger would be available for the NCAA Tournament.

Krieger was in obvious pain and had to take slow, deliberate steps on her way off the field.

She chose not to comment on her injury.

Heading into yesterday's practice, the team was unsure who would replace Krieger if she cannot play today.

"We haven't really come up with it yet," Penn State assistant women's soccer coach Tim Rosenfeld said.

The injury could not have come at a worse time for the Nittany Lions. The team will start its quest for its first national championship when it squares off against Bucknell at 5 tonight at Jeffrey Field.

Krieger is the second leading scorer for the Lions and is tied with senior forward Carmelina Moscato with seven goals. Three of those goals have been game-winners, including a double-overtime goal against Minnesota two weeks ago that made the Lions unbeaten and untied in the Big Ten for the second straight season.

The co-captain has also chipped in two assists this year.

However, Krieger's contributions to the team have not only been via statistics. She has provided the intangibles that every team wants.

Every game, Krieger is a force in the midfield and is regarded as one of the hardest workers on the team.

Earlier this season, Penn State women's soccer assistant coach Michael Coll described her as the "engine" of the team, and senior forward Tiffany Weimer has also referred to Krieger as "the heart of the team."

This isn't the first time Krieger has seen time in the trainer's room.

Earlier this season, she suffered a left calf strain.

Lately, she has been receiving treatment for a back injury.