Sept. 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State sophomore defender and Canadian National Team member Lexi Marton (Aurora, Ontario) suffered a knee injury on Sept. 12 and will be out for three months head coach Erica Walsh said on Thursday.
"It is certainly positive news that it wasn't a complete injury in terms of a tearing an ACL, it's just a partial tear of the MCL and some bone bruising," Walsh said. "We look forward to seeing Lexi out there soon and happy to know she will be completely healthy when the 2011 season begins."
Marton sustained a significant injury during a collision with a Portland attacker during Penn State's narrow 4-2 loss in Oregon. Marton went in for a tackle, while the Pilot striker came down with her cleats on Marton's knee, causing hyperextension.
After multiple tests and a diagnosis by Penn State physician Dr. Roberta Millard, Marton has a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and some bruising of the bones in the area. Marton's injury will not require surgery and she should be cleared for full training and contact in three months time.
Before Wednesday's game against Bucknell, Marton had yet to miss a game due to injury during her time in Happy Valley. Marton played in 20 of the team's 21 games in 2009, missing one due to national team duty with Canada's U-20 squad last October, and the first seven games of the 2010 season. Marton earned unanimous All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors, while being named to the All-Big Ten Second Team squad in 2009. Marton was expecting to be called up with the full Canadian National Team later this month in preparation for the team's CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign.
Twelve-time defending Big Ten champion Penn State begins its title run on Sunday against Michigan State. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. at Penn State's Jeffrey Field and will stream live on BigTenNetwork.com.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Twitter: @PSUWomensSoccer
Follow Penn State women's soccer on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PSUWomensSoccer
--NITTANY LIONS--