Strapping on shin guards is as monotonous for soccer players as tying shoes is for everyone else. When a serious back injury threatened to take Lesa Zollinger's passion away, she realized how meaningful the trivial chore of getting dressed up to play is.
"When I wasn't able to play, I missed it so much," said Zollinger. "I would miss putting on shin guards and cleats and running out on the soccer field. When it was taken away from me, that's when I realized how much I love the game."
When Utah faces Wyoming in Las Vegas this Wednesday during the first round of the Mountain West Conference soccer tournament, Zollinger will cherish each moment. It's funny how being relegated to the sideline all too often during your career has that cheesy effect on someone.
During Zollinger's junior year at Mountain Crest High School, from out of the blue her back began hurting. It was minor pain initially, but eventually it evolved into throbbing. Doctor visits in February finally produced a diagnosis in July.
She had a pars fracture on the right side of her fifth lumbar vertebra. With treatment and physical therapy doctors said there wouldn't be lingering effects. This was great news for Zollinger who was eager to pursue her collegiatecareer.
The striker returned in time for the later part of her senior season, and all appeared well.
A few months later the pain returned — on the other side.
"The doctor was pretty confident I would play and be fine. He was pretty surprised," said Zollinger. "The bones didn't fuse back together properly on the right side, that's probably what caused the fracture on the left side."
More time in the back brace and more physical therapy, and Zollinger was ready when preseason practices kicked off at the University of Utah. Once again, that elation didn't last long when she pulled up lame during a sprint drill.
Now Zollinger's patience was really being tested.
Tests showed another fracture and three bulging discs.
"That was the worst time. I had a fracture, and I had bulging discs that were pinching the nerves all the way down my legs," said Zollinger. "I could hardly put on my socks and shoes. I never wanted to go to class because I was so uncomfortable."
Christmas time rolled around during her freshman year, and Zollinger feared her impending decision. Her reoccurring back problems were becoming ridiculous, and she was wondering if it was worth it.
"I was so confused," she said.
After a Christmas break spent largely pondering her options, Zollinger informed Utah coach Amy Freeman-Winslow that barring a miraculous turnaround, she'd be retiring. Zollinger was devastated. Her passion had been taken away.
Ironically, time away from strenuous activities was exactly what she needed. The pain gradually wore away, and by summertime it surprisingly felt healthy again. She could actually run in comfort.
Zollinger joined her club team Devastation at the regional and national tournament, and it was then she realized she couldn't give up on such camaraderie. She loved soccer too much.
She called her coach and said, "I'm back."
"I've pretty much played soccer since I was 5. It's always something that I've done and fallen in love with," said Zollinger. "You just get this natural high off of playing games, plus I didn't want to leave the team. I loved being part of the team."
It's not like her troublesome back problems vanished — she just handles it more intelligently these days. If she senses her back acting up, her coaches happily oblige and give her the day off.
"My coaches have been so good about working with me," said Zollinger.
Her redshirt freshman year culminated in a second team all-conference honor for Zollinger.
This past summer she went to a back specialist clinic with her boyfriend Chris Burgess, a member of the Utah men's basketball team. The summerlong clinic was attended by high-profile athletes such as Mark Brunell and Tony Boseli of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"It's concerned about motion and keeping your body in function," said Zollinger. "You do exercises to take away all the extra pressure adding to the pain."
The camp gave Zollinger a new lease on her back. She still does back exercises daily and it's helped her maintain a consistently pain-free sophomore season.
Zollinger still has two years of eligibility remaining, and based on the spastic road she's been through so far, she'll treasure every practice and every game.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com