Evan Gormley sat out Mount St. Mary's 12-11 win against Bucknell on Saturday, but the starting midfielder is expected to suit up for Wednesday's game at Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris.
Coach Tom Gravante said the junior, who ranks third on the Mountaineers (4-6 overall and 1-1 league) in goals and points (11 each), has been plagued with nagging injuries, and the latest one involving his quad forced the coaching staff to make a decision.
"He just wasn't in a position to go," Gravante said Monday. "The significance is, was it important to play him in the Bucknell game or rest him for Robert Morris? We decided to rest him."
Sophomore Mikey Ripa filled in for Gormely, joining senior Clayton Wainer and junior Justin Gosnell as starting midfielders against the Bison (6-5). Ripa did not register a point, but he demonstrated a nice chemistry with the team's man-up offense, which converted 2 of 3 opportunities.
"They did a nice job," Gravante said. "When you're given an opportunity to play, you better respond and make your time count. [Ripa] did, and he's going to be in and out of the lineup."
Freshman goalkeeper Matt Vierheller also missed Saturday's contest with what Gravante called a "deep thigh bruise" suffered in a 10-2 victory at Sacred Heart on March 28. Junior Frankie McCarthy stepped in and made a game-high 19 saves.
"He wasn't 100 percent," Gravante said of Vierheller. "That coupled with Frankie being healthy, we decided, 'Let's give him a shot.' Matt didn't really practice until Thursday or Friday of last week. So we stayed with Frankie. Frankie had a good week, and we were confident in his abilities. So we played him. … We were very happy for him and proud of him."
Gravante said if healthy, Vierheller will start on Wednesday against the Colonials (1-9, 0-3).
"He's our No. 1 guy," Gravante said. "We're going to continue to stay with him. He's having a great year. Frankie will be the No. 2 and on stand-by."