Horwath started with abdominal exercises to strengthen her weakened stomach and spine muscles using large rubber balls in the Harvard training room. Later, she was able to progress to running on grass and then on concrete.

"You get to know your trainer really well, especially the people you work with," she says. "You really learn the ins and outs."

The Right Tude

Psychological strength, in fact, is about as important as physical. As the rehab sessions stretch on, it's difficult to keep one's hopes up.

"The biggest thing is your attitude," Konik says. "I really got down about it, [and] that hurts you the worst."

Horwath agrees.

"I definitely applaud the field hockey team in sticking with [me]," Horwath says. "It was just as important as the support I got in the athletic training room."

And if a team supports one of its own, that person will support the team back.

"Two teammates of mine--[senior Mike] Gilmore and Ray--we want to finish what we started," Rankin says. "I love my team...it just makes it worth-while to see the team jell."