During Tuesday's women's lacrosse practice, Marisa Lozano stood next to coach Suzanne Isidor with a whistle dangling from her neck, instructing her fellow teammates where to go on the attack.
Watching on the sidelines is a new role for the Penn State senior co-captain. Last year, Lozano started all 17 games and led the team in assists (24) and points (44). Entering her fifth season as a Nittany Lion, Lozano was ready to cement herself as one of the most proficient attackers in Penn State history.
However, all of that changed when Lozano tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee with two days remaining in fall practice. The knee injury ended Lozano's career on the field but gave her the opportunity to start a new role off the field.
Lozano said it was tough for her to adjust to different roles after her career-ending injury.
"It was really hard at first," Lozano said. "I needed to get over it quickly and put it behind me so I could step into my new role with the team."
Now, Lozano finds herself on the coaching staff directing her teammates. In the past, Lozano was always known for being the emotional leader of the team and pumping up her teammates during practices and games.
Lozano said her role has not changed drastically with the team. Instead of leading by example on the field, she is now the vocal leader on the sidelines.
When Lozano was a freshman, she was in a similar situation. Rather than teaching from the sidelines, she was learning, as she was forced to sit out the season because of an injury to her right knee.
"It's ironic that during my freshman year I was on the sidelines, and I learned the ways of the attack and things like that," Lozano said. "Now in my fifth year, I am doing the same thing. With my knowledge and experience with lacrosse, I can help everybody else."
Lozano's presence has already helped some of the younger players. She has worked with freshman attackers Molly Fernandez and Hayley Sofarnos on scoring in the crease and attacking the net. The team has seen the dividends, as Fernandez currently leads the team in assists (six) and points (17).
Isidor is pleased with what she has seen from her former offensive standout and how she handled her situation. She said Lozano's impact off the field is almost as strong as on the field, which is a difficult task.
Isidor also had to accommodate having a coach on her sidelines with as much wisdom and awareness Lozano presents.
"For me as a coach, I have to find ways to use her to the best of her ability because I am lucky to have her on the staff," Isidor said.
Lozano credits her teammates for making the transition from player to mentor easier and smoother. She said becoming a coach could create weird boundaries being a player and then a coach, but her teammates have responded well and everybody seems to be on the same page.
Being a leader is something Lozano will always bring to her team. Sophomore midfielder Theresa Zichelli said Lozano has been tremendous in helping the younger players, and she brings a positive attitude to the team.
"She's still a coach, teammate and captain," Isidor said. "Ever since she has been at Penn State, she has been the emotional leader and she remains that."
