Contrary to popular belief and even reports on this blog, Steve Dircks' 2009 season was not lost because he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The Loyola redshirt junior defenseman set the record straight by stating that he fractured his kneecap, which cost him all of last year.
That still makes his play this season remarkable.
Despite not regaining his starter's status until the fourth game of the season, Dircks has collected 25 groundballs and caused seven turnovers for a unit that ranks first among Division I defenses in average goals allowed (7.2).
Greyhounds coach Charley Toomey said Dircks appears to be the same defenseman who was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference second team two years ago, and Dircks didn't vehemently disagree.
"I'd say that I'm a lot better than what I was," he said. "The injury to my knee probably helped me in helping me overcome adversity. It made me come back stronger. As a sophomore, I dislocated my elbow and I was out for a while, and then I got better from that injury. I got better in my communication and overall defensive awareness. I may have lost a little bit on-ball, but I'm getting that back."
Still, Dircks has regrets about being sidelined last season, most of which center on missing out on playing together with former attackman Shane Koppens for one last time.
"I remember two years ago after we lost to Duke, Coach said, 'Shane Koppens is coming back.' I was like, 'Awesome. I get to play another year with Shane,'" Dircks recalled. "When that injury happened, Shane was the first one to call and say, "Sorry about it.' It was very upsetting not to practice, not to be with the team."
At first, his surgically-repaired knee was slow to respond to treatment, and Dircks missed much of fall ball. Returning in time for the spring, he played sparingly in the season opener against Navy before working his way back into starting lineup against Notre Dame.
"At first, I didn't feel confident at all because I had this constant thought in my head that something was going to happen to my knee," Dircks said. "But come game time, you're just focusing on the game, not on yourself. I was just going to go 100 percent, and hopefully, all went well."