By Charlotte Tannenbaum, Duke Athletics Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM –
Brilliant saves, near misses, devastating losses, and victories at the final whistle: any fan can tell you that soccer is a game full of unexpected ups and downs. For a player, perhaps the most unwelcome surprise is injury. This was the case for Carina Lageyre, a sophomore who was sidelined for much of her debut season with a frustrating hamstring injury in 2022. Following a recovery marked by patience and determination, Lageyre returned to the pitch this past season and has been making up for lost time.
Lageyre’s injury first occurred in the summer of 2022, while she was in Costa Rica representing the United States in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She arrived in Durham shortly after, making her collegiate debut against UNC Charlotte in late August. In just her second collegiate match against second-ranked UCLA, Lageyre played 59 minutes and was very impressive. Unfortunately, Lageyre reinjured her hamstring shortly after and was sidelined for much of her freshman season.
Lageyre was not the only injured player. By supporting each other and taking it one step at a time, she and her teammates were able to make the best of a difficult situation.
“We helped each other through and celebrated the small victories, which was something we needed in those moments of adversity,” Lageyre says. “When I did have those victories, it was really great to have people recognize it. All my teammates reaching out to say how proud they were of me helped the process.”
Lageyre was also thankful for Duke’s experienced physical therapy staff who supported her throughout her recovery.
“My mood would be different every day depending on how I felt, so it was nice to know that the staff accepted me in whatever state I was in and were willing to help me and try many different things,” says Lageyre. “They were really adaptable and able to provide me with the best care.”
A serious injury can be as mentally challenging as it is physically, especially for athletes as dedicated to their sport as Lageyre. Blue Devils are encouraged to talk with sports psychologists during their recovery process to make sure that their mental wellbeing is addressed along with their physical rehabilitation.
“It’s great to talk it out with someone who has an unbiased…
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