Ben Strauss has not played in No. 20 Towson's last four games, and there is some consideration to shutting down the freshman defenseman for the remainder of the season.
Strauss has not played since suffering a bruised knee during practice on April 5, and coach Tony Seaman said the medical staff is mystified as to why the knee is not responding to treatment.
"He's still in a lot of pain," Seaman said. "He hasn't been able to perform at 100 percent. We really got worried about it, so we got him a MRI [magnetic resonance imaging exam], and we're waiting for the doctor's report."
Seaman said that Strauss, who has started five games this season, would qualify for a medical redshirt if he and the school decide to apply for one.
"It's a big option because [senior] Cameron Zook who was playing pole for us has moved back to close, and he's done really nice job," Seaman said. "We've been happy with that. So there's a good chance. We'll have to see. Another injury could make us change our minds, but that's sort of the 50-50 question in the back of our minds right now."
Strauss will likely miss Saturday's home game against Penn State, which has limped to a 2-9 record. But the Nittany Lions upset then-No. 13 Hofstra, 11-10, in overtime last Saturday, and Penn Statehas knocked off a pair of traditionally strong opponents in Georgetown and Bucknell in each of the prior two seasons.
"You've got to be worried about a team that was down 7-2 to Hofstra and then came back and won," Seaman said. "They have that kind of potential. When you look over Penn State's history over the years, in April and May, that seems to be an unbelievable upset time for them. … You can't go by records. That's so hard, and that's proven every day. You just never know."