Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse coach Dave Pietramala said Wednesday morning that senior defenseman Robert Enright will undergo surgery on his knee and miss the rest of the 2015 campaign.
Pietramala also said junior defenseman Eddie Morris is out for the season after suffering a knee injury of his own last week. Lacrosse Magazine first reported that development.
Enright, a two-year starter who had six ground balls and two caused turnovers in four games, injured his right knee in the team's 13-11 loss at No. 2 North Carolina on Feb. 21. Four days after the injury, Pietramala had said that he was waiting for a complete diagnosis before making a determination on Enright's season, but Pietramala made the announcement about his surgery Wednesday.
Enright, who sat out the last three games and is mulling applying for a medical redshirt to return next year, has been a daily presence at practices for the No. 20 Blue Jays (3-4).
"Robbie has been rehabbing," Pietramala said. "He's working extraordinarily hard. He's been a very positive contributor to practice, out there every day leading and trying to be as positive as he can with the guys given his circumstances. It shows you the loss that it is. But it's time for the next guy to step up. It's time for [senior] Nik Schuler to step up, and that in turn leads to an opportunity for [junior long-stick midfielder] Derrick Kihembo and a couple other guys. They're working hard, and hopefully, they'll step up and do their jobs."
Morris had showed promise that he could help replace Enright before he was injured.
"Robbie Enright had taken another step as a player and was really becoming the leader of our defense on the field and was an integral part. When he went down, obviously, everyone bumps up the line, and Eddie Morris was being provided with an opportunity," Pietramala said. "Unfortunately, he had his two best days of practice as a Blue Jay prior to hurting himself. So we're disappointed for both kids and for our team.
"Unfortunately, these things happen in athletics, and the key is how the young men handle it. Both of them have handled it really great with really positive attitudes, and they've been wonderful given the circumstances. The other guys that have stepped into their place now have an opportunity to step up for the team."
Schuler has seven ground balls and two caused turnovers since starting for Enright. But Johns Hopkins has surrendered an average of 12.3 goals in those games and has dropped two of those three contests.
Pietramala said the injuries should serve to remind every player on the roster that he could be called to perform at a moment's notice.
"You hope that all the guys see the value in practicing and preparing like a starter," he said. "These are the exact moments why coaches preach that and why coaches say, 'Every man on the roster is important, and every guy may have his opportunity.' You're a shot away from being the goalie, you're an ankle away as a faceoff guy, a knee away. All these guys play important roles on the team, and I think what sometimes gets lost is that if you're not a starter, you're not very far from being one. If that is the situation that you're in, it's very important to go out every day and practice hard, hone your craft and prepare for every game as if you are the starter because you never know when you will be called upon."