Carly Niness is day-to-day with a sprained ankle injury she suffered in Penn State's 6-0 victory against Illinois on Sunday.
The sophomore midfielder played the entire game Sunday, but sat out Tuesday's women's soccer practice, relegated to tossing soccer balls to goalkeeper Kristin Hartmann behind the net.
Coach Erica Walsh said she talked to head soccer trainer Andra Thomas after the match Sunday and was told the injury wasn't that serious.
Walsh and Thomas both speculated that Niness will play in the No. 25 Lions' Thursday road match against Indiana.
"Carly has one heck of a pain tolerance. She could probably play through any injury," Thomas said Tuesday.
Niness has started the last three matches for the Lions (9-5-2, 5-1-1 Big Ten), so the injury could cause Walsh to adjust the starting lineup once again.
Senior Melissa Hayes and sophomore Ali Schaefer both practiced with the first team in practice Tuesday and have been solid contributors in the midfield all season.
On a corner attempt in the first half of Sunday's game, Niness said she went up for a header and landed on the side of her foot. It took her a few moments to realize what happened, she said, but she played through the pain.
During halftime, Niness said she took some Advil and went back out to play the entirety of the match.
"It hurt a lot, but I played through the pain," she said.
Niness was still her cheerful self at practice Tuesday, joking around and dancing with teammate Bri Garcia on the sidelines as her teammates practiced. A portable stimulation device was equipped to her ankle to help keep the swelling down in her ankle and to relieve the pain in her ankle, Thomas said.
The Berwyn native limped around in a boot on her right foot at practice. Niness was originally fitted with a soft cast, but the boot enabled her to get around easier and attend lifting sessions, the sophomore said.
With the Lions flying to their match Thursday, Thomas said Niness was kept out of practice to be safe. If need be, Thomas said the training staff could have taped Niness's ankle to get her out on the field.
Getting from class to class has been difficult for her, though. Niness has driven a motorized cart around campus to stay off her ankle.
She has rode the cart to get from her off-campus house to treatment sessions in Rec Hall at 8 a.m., then to her daily classes.
All the precaution is necessary if Niness is going to play Thursday, as the Lions fight to stay alive for a Big Ten conference championship.
"Even though I sprained my ankle, I'm hoping it won't affect my game and I'll be able to play through it," Niness said. "Even if I don't start, to still be able to get in there and play my part means a lot."
