This was not the senior season that Jean Rettig had envisioned.

The two-time Academic All-Big Ten midfielder had expected her final year with the Penn State women's soccer team to be a special one. She expected to log significant playing time as an integral part of the Nittany Lions' offense and she expected to help lead her team to another conference title.

Instead, her plans were derailed by a devastating injury earlier this season.

In the third game of the year against Texas, Rettig suffered a concussion that has kept her off the field -- both at practices and during games -- ever since.

But, despite the severity of the injury, it has not diminished her spirit.

"It's definitely been hard because I'm usually a leader, just by setting a good example," she said. "So, I've been forced to be more vocal and try to find ways to encourage my teammates, and just stay as positive as possible."

The loss of Rettig was the most serious of the many setbacks that Penn State had to deal with during the early parts of its season.

Dubbed "The Machine" by her teammates and "the brain in the midfield" by head coach Paula Wilkins, Rettig left the Lions without one of the main keys to their success.

Yet, what they lost on the field, the Lions gained on the sideline as she became the biggest support system for her teammates.

"Jean is awesome to have on the team right now because she is always there supporting us and you know she'll be out there 100 percent for everyone," senior midfielder/defender Sarah Dwyer said.

Rettig, Dwyer and three other seniors are members of one of the most successful classes in program history.

Throughout their tenure, they amassed a 73-9-9 record, including a 37-2-1 mark in the conference, and never lost to a Big Ten team at home. Not to mention, they own four championship rings.

The quintet is defined by its consistency and desire to compete, and no one exemplifies that more than Rettig.

"Even now, she'll come out at practice and kick a ball around. I know she wishes that she could play, but she knows she can't so she does what she can -- and that's support the team," Dwyer said.

Never was this more evident than when Penn State took on Northwestern two Sundays ago. With the Big Ten championship on the line, there is no doubt that Rettig wanted to suit up for her team one more time.

Although, having not been medically cleared by doctors, she did the next best thing by cheering from sideline with the rest of her teammates.

Once the Lions had clinched, the reality of the situation was not lost on Rettig.

"It's amazing and is definitely something that I will never forget," she said.

Now, as her team readies for the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, Rettig and her status are up in the air. A medical redshirt remains a question mark, but what is certain is that she will not look back on this situation with ill feelings.

"I honestly could not have asked for four better seniors to come in with," she said.

"It has been an amazing experience."