Claire Green, senior, races down the field with the ball. As she goes for the shot, she jumps, but two players block her. She loses her footing and lands with a straight leg, tearing her ACL, and prematurely ending her lacrosse season during its first game.

“The realization I would be missing my last high school season was hard to grasp because I had been so excited,” she said.

She has not decided when she will undergo surgery because of all the upcoming events, like graduation, that require her to walk. After the surgery, it will take her an average of six to nine months to fully recover and to be able to play contact sports.

The injury should only affect her future playing college lacrosse in that she won’t be able to participate in offseason workouts and fall-ball.

There’s a chance she’ll come back late to next year’s spring season, depending on how her therapy works. Her injury shouldn’t impact her college scholarship to the University of Indianapolis, which prevents the school from retracting if she was injured.

Despite her disappointment, she made an Instagram account called @theadventuresofthecripple. There, she good-naturedly posts photos, complete with sarcastic captions, of the various everyday activities she can no longer do because her injury.

Chris Elledge, lacrosse coach, said the team will miss her leadership and will miss having her playing on the field.

“Out of all of the people this could happen to, she’s probably the worst because it’s a big piece of her identity and who she is,” Elledge said. “Luckily, I and many other people are making sure she knows she’s an amazing person regardless of lacrosse or not.”

Elledge said the experience will challenge her character, but she’ll be fine.

“She’s a very strong individual,” he said. “It will make her better later.”

Haley Downs, sophomore, is among the players who are receiving more playing time to fill in for Green. She also plays midfield, depending on the game. This is her first year on varsity.

“[Green] is a very, very, very good player, so there’s pressure,” Downs said.

Downs said they’re still a really strong team, with a record of 8-0. They’ve beaten really talented teams, and they’re confident they can keep it up throughout the season. On April 9 at Hazelwood West, the team won its first tournament ever.

“Everyone works their butts off all of the time,” she said. “That’s really great because I’m a really competitive person,”