An hour before the biggest home game of the season, Penn State men's soccer coach Barry Gorman instructed his team to begin its pre-game preparations.
But instead of sending coaches to get the team ready for No. 17 Ohio State, he entrusted the task to upperclassmen Jason Yeisley and Andy Parr.
One year ago today, Yeisley led the conference in points, and he was a candidate for the Big Ten's player of the year award. The Nittany Lions were fighting for an NCAA tournament berth and a second Big Ten title in three years.
But just 15 minutes into that night's contest against Boston University, Yeisley tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) attempting to clear a ball off the back line. As he fell to the ground in pain, so too did the Lions, as they finished 7-8-4 and .500 in conference play, missing out on the NCAA tournament.
Parr, a junior defender, tore his ACL two weeks earlier. He and Yeisley both had surgery later that month, ending their respective seasons and forcing them to redshirt this season as well.
"We're being extra special careful with both of them," coach Barry Gorman said. "We made the decision based on the doctor's input and consultation with him. We said, 'Look guys, we want you to be able to walk when you're 30 and not be crippled.' "
Yeisley, a captain on this year's team despite his injury, and Parr, the leader of a young defense, knew they would be set on the backburner this season while a youthful Lion squad took their place.
Despite their inability to set foot on the field, Parr and Yeisley have taken it upon themselves to make an impact on the younger players and to continue to lead the team, albeit from the bench.
"It's brilliant," Gorman said. "They want to be involved. It's very easy for a player who gets injured to want to find a hole and crawl into it and disappear until they're ready to come back -- but Andy and Jason have simply been fantastic."
As gametime neared Saturday, Parr and Yeisley took the team through a series of drills -- Parr with the defense and Yiesley with the offense.
Once the team had stretched and gone through some warm-ups, it headed to the center of the field to start a keep-away style drill.
Parr and Yiesley were left behind on the sideline to juggle a ball and chat with coaches.
According to Parr, the two players can participate in everything except "contact drills," and even got time in controlled 11 on 11 scrimmages in the past couple of weeks.
"I love being out there," Yeisley said. "It's hard to watch -- even games on TV because I just love to play and I can't."
Yeisley added being able to practice has eased some of the pain of sitting out, but nothing would compare to when he stepped onto Jeffrey Field for the first time next season.
"It's gotta be tough for them," Gorman said. "I always liken it to: Would a plumber go and watch other plumbers work? And the answer is no."
When the game against the Buckeyes began, the two took their normal place on the bench -- next to the coaches to offer any input the staff may ask for.
The Lions gave up two early goals, and trailed the Buckeyes, 2-0, a sight that has become familiar at Jeffrey Field this season.
Their record stood at 2-7-2 before the game, and the lack of a consistent scoring threat and the absence of a defensive anchor have been two of the reasons for a winless streak that dated back to Sept. 10.
The two were together on the bench, just as they've been together since the rehab began. The similarity of the injuries has allowed them to recover at virtually the same rate.
"For the most part we've been on the same time frame to do everything -- to start running, to start practicing," Yeisley said. "It's like friendly competition, but not even competition. We just push each other to get better and to get back healthy, and it's been really nice to go through it with someone else."
Although they are both allowed to participate in practice, Parr and Yeisley still spend time rehabbing their knees every day.
Parr pointed to morning trips to the weight room as the best time to have a fellow teammate with him.
"At eight in the morning, when you're going in there to do rehab, it's a lot easier to have someone else in there pushing you," he said.
The injury marked the second time Parr has torn the same ACL, and Gorman noted the recurrence was part of the reason for giving him a redshirt this season.
With 12 minutes left in the game Saturday, Parr and Yeisley were no longer sitting on the bench.
The Lions had scored three goals in 13 minutes to take the lead, and now faced the prospect of holding off the Buckeyes with only 10 men after Lion defender Bobby Bohlen picked up a red card.
As a result, the entire team was standing on the sideline screaming advice and encouragement, and Parr and Yeisley were no exception.
This type of dedication has had a profound impact on the younger players, according to Gorman.
"It's a tremendous motivation thing," Gorman said. "They're there everyday giving their all, and that's leadership."
Sophomore goalie Liam Fitzwater agreed with Gorman's assessment, and added the team was anxiously awaiting their return next season.
"They're out there every day working with us, egging us on to do better," Fitzwater said. "They're leaders and we appreciate their efforts. They'll come back next year a lot stronger and a lot fitter and we're all looking forward to that."
A fitter and stronger Yeisley could be a scary proposition for opposing defenses. Gorman called the senior forward a professional prospect if all goes well with his rehab.
"Jason Yeisley is worth three players on the field with his ability to unsettle defenses score goals and create things for everybody else," Gorman said.
"As for Andy, Andy Parr has just gotten better and better as a defender. He's smooth and he reads the game."
When asked about next year each player's face instantly sported a wide grin. Yeisley added he wanted another Big Ten title, to add to the one he earned as a freshman in 2005, and a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
"When you're younger you think you have four more years left of getting into the tournament, but it's not like that," Yeisley said. "It goes quick."
The 2009 campaign will be the last chance for Yeisley to leave his mark on the Big Ten. Parr will have two more seasons before departing Jeffrey Field.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back on the field," Parr said. "Even in the spring we'll be able to get into some contact stuff, but I really can't express to you how excited I am to get back on the field."
As Ohio State forward Joshua Breto's last-second attempt for an equalizer sailed inches wide, Parr and Yeisley ran onto the field to mob their teammates. After a few minutes of high-fiving, they headed to the locker room to celebrate with the rest of the team.
Gorman hopes the upset victory is a sign of things to come when the two veterans take the field for the '09 season surrounded by a team filled with young talent.
"Right now," Gorman said. "We're looking at them as our top two recruits for next season."
