TOWSON, Md. – Injuries, of course, are not uncommon in the world of sports. They can make or break an athlete's career. For some, it signifies the end of an era and ushers in a new path. For others, it can be a motivating factor to fight to get back to the field of play.
 
For Towson University women's soccer redshirt sophomore Sam Lotti, it was the latter.
 
During her sophomore year in high school, Lotti tore her ACL for the first time, along with her meniscus. The injury recurred during the final minute of her final club game in March 2015, Lotti injured her entire knee: ACL, MCL and meniscus. She missed the entirety of what should have been her true freshman season. She was still with the team, serving as a student-manager, filming games on the road.
 
Heading into the 2016 season, Lotti again needed surgery. After the spring training sessions, she could feel that something was off in her leg. She visited with her doctor and there was a decision ahead: have surgery or give up playing soccer. It was an easy decision for Lotti.
 
Her third surgery was to repair parts of her quad and hamstring. The Freehold, New Jersey native was forced to the sideline for a second straight season after the third surgery on her left leg in the five years. She returned in time for the Tigers' non-championship season scrimmages in the Spring 2017, the first step on her return to the playing field.
 
Lotti made her long-awaited Towson debut on August 18, 2017 as a starting defender in the Tigers' 1-1 double overtime draw at UMBC in the opening leg in the Battle of Baltimore. So far in her "rookie" season, Lotti has played in all 13 games, including four starts.
 
"It was a pretty rewarding feeling, honestly," said Lotti of her first start. "It was a lot of hard work over the past few years and that hard work paid off. It made me feel like the work I put into it was worth it."
 
Her defining moment so far this season came last week. With Towson holding a 1-0 lead against Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) foe Elon, Lotti collected a rebound on a Madi Lawrence header in the 66^th minute.
 
With three defenders and a keeper between Lotti and the goal, she planted her surgically-repaired left leg, swung her right foot under the ball and found the back of the net. It was her first collegiate shot and after Towson surrendered a goal to Elon in the 79^th minute, that stood up as her first career game-winning goal as well.
 
"It felt awesome (to score)," said Lotti of the break-through goal. "It's been a really long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but I think the ups definitely overpower the downs and the hard times. It's been worth it to get back on the field."
 
The injury bug has plagued Towson this season, forcing head coach Greg Paynter to move players around. Lotti began the season as a defender, but subbed in against Elon as a forward. It was the spark Towson needed to secure three points in league play and snap a six-game winless drought for the Tigers.
 
"We had a meeting with her last week about changing her role, and trying to chip in where she can," said Paynter of her adjusted position. "I think she did a great job this week coming off the bench to give us some relief up top and to score a goal is a product of that hard work."
 
For her efforts, Lotti was selected as the CAA's Rookie of the Week Monday afternoon. She was the first Towson women's soccer student-athlete to win a weekly award from the conference this season and the first since Justine Stoner was also the Rookie of the Week on September 23, 2016.
 
"She's a non-traditional rookie right now," said Paynter. "She's been around for a while, but hasn't been able to contribute on the field. But she's been committed to the program, she's worked really hard in the athletic training room. It's good to see her back in action and having to adapt to the new style she has to play with."
 
Lotti will continue to play in whatever capacity her team needs her this season. Towson welcomes long-time conference rival Hofstra to the Tiger Soccer Complex Thursday afternoon for Towson's penultimate home game of the regular season. Game time is set for 3 p.m. with three crucial league points on the line.
 
- TowsonTigers.com –