Sophomore Faye Hipsman is an experienced second year lacrosse player from Concord, Massachusetts, and is looking forward to a promising season playing for a revamped Yeowomen team. Although the future for Hipsman is bright, she has had her share of struggles and tests, overcoming hurdles to earn her bright future.

Last year the team headed to Seattle, Washington on a spring break trip that included four games. When the Yeowomen played against Puget Sound, a school just outside Seattle, Hipsman had the ball and was blowing past defenders with skill and speed. As she slowed to get a look up field, she heard a loud noise.

“I twisted and all of sudden I heard a loud pop. It was louder than anything I had ever heard,” said Hipsman.

The team trainer, Manzie Williams, was the first to examine Hipsman after the incident and was certain she had torn her anterior cruciate ligament. After being told that the injury would keep her out for the rest of her freshman year and that she required surgery, Hipsman remained positive because she knew she would be fully ready for her sophomore year.

The doctors performed surgery on April 6, last spring. Within the first few weeks of rehabilitation, Hipsman advanced quickly. Just when things seemed to be going well, however, she experienced some pain and discomfort.

During the fourth week of rehab, Hipsman began to have difficulty bending her knee, but for her it was just another hurdle and she worked through the problem. She returned home for the summer with recovery looking good and ready to return to full strength. Unfortunately, another problem arose: she could not straighten her knee.

This new problem prompted her to go to her own hometown doctor for another MRI. The prognosis came, that the Patella tendon graph, which the first doctors had used to repair her ACL, was put on incorrectly. To Hipsman’s dismay, a second surgery was needed to determine and fix all the problems.

When the knee was opened this time, the surgeon found a bunch of scar tissue and a screw popping out of the bone that needed to be shaved down. After all this, they stitched Hipsman up, she rested in the reserved room and for the second time was on the road to recovery. Her courage shined as Hipsman turned two weeks of crutches into a day and a half.

Last fall was dedicated toward Hipsman finishing off a second shot at rehab. Throughout the struggles, she held high expectations for what she hoped would be a memorable return to lacrosse.

As Hipsman’s knee problems appear to be in the past, she is really focusing on improving her speed. “I have seen such significant improvement in my speed over the year.”

The goals for this season are high even though the Yeowomen are picked to finish last in the conference.

“I think the rankings just came out and we were ranked last. I think that’s a bunch of bologna and I am super stoked to go out and shock everyone,” said Hipsman.

Hipsman is especially excited about the team’s new goalie, junior Kira Thorien, and the first-years the team acquired this season.

“Kira works really hard and improves everyday. The freshmen are all good athletes and have sweet shots,” explained Hipsman.

With the season only two weeks away, Hipsman is training hard to make sure she is prepared both mentally and physically, in hopes of earning some solid minutes. After all, she has worked tirelessly for every last one.