With about 20 minutes left in Penn State's 5-0 win against St. Francis (Pa.) Tuesday, whooping cheers, whistling and applause bounced off the home team's bleachers.

Standing up and hobbling off the field was senior and Penn State team captain Jason Yeisley, who redshirted all of the regular season last year because of a 2007 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. At first, it seemed as if Yeisley had reinjured his knee, but as the senior made known afterwards, it was only a charley horse.

Although Yeisley knows having a major injury doesn't allow him to better cope with other later ailments, he believes it did make him a smarter player.

"There will be no next time," Yeisley said. "I have my head straight. There are no more injuries."

The forward played his back to defenders while absorbing pushes from St. Francis players who didn't want to be bullied by the bigger Yeisley. On Tuesday, the senior pounded his feet to the ground, swung his arms back and forth and gunned for the ball even if there wasn't any chance of getting to it before Red Flash goalie Darius Motazed.

The team captain was working hard, but Yeisley wasn't going to play recklessly like he had when his ACL tore in the 2007 collision with a Boston University player who was trying to clear the ball.

"I didn't know if I'd be able to play again when it first happened," Yeisley said. "The surgery had to go well, and I had to rehab well. You never know how your body is going to react."

Yeisley, of course, was able to return. He played for Penn State during the spring season last year and in Brazil this summer. Yeisley was also a part of the Premier Development League's Reading Rage. During that time, his knee held up -- as did his head.

Tuesday's matchup may not have been Yeisley's first game since his injury, but he understood it was his first game of his last collegiate season.

Penn State coach Barry Gorman saw the importance of having Yeisley, as well as 2008 redshirt junior Andy Parr, back in Tuesday's lineup.

"They're two players, student athletes that we want [at Penn State]," Gorman said.

Parr said overcoming his knee injury was difficult, but help from Nittany Lion players got him through. Those same players were also there for Yeisley.

As if to thank them, Yeisley high-fived his teammates Tuesday and had no problem smiling after goals or being the last Lion player to walk off the field.

Yeisley is ready for a healthy season, and this year recklessly barreling into opposing players will not be an option.

"Just got to be smarter," Yeisley said. "[I'm] going to play hard but play smart."