With injuries sidelining several players, the Loyola women’s soccer team fell to 3-12-1 after a loss to the University of Mobile on Tuesday night. Despite holding Mobile to one goal in the first half, the ‘Pack was unable to hold the Rams, who scored twice more in the second half to win, 3-0.

With few substitutes and most of the team nursing injuries, the team that Loyola was able to field was less than perfect. Fatigue overtook the team in the second half as Mobile substituted fresh players and simply outran the Wolfpack.

“They scored a goal right when we needed substitutes,” communications junior Gigi Alford said.

The injuries have led to many adjustments on the field.

“We can’t play everyone in their ideal positions, because we have to compensate for the injured players,” Alford said. “The first half, we really played well and moved as a unit, but we started to show our fatigue at the end of the first half. . . . Physical endurance affects mental endurance.”

Claire Springer, biology senior, Kat Olukotun, political science sophomore, and Amy Budahn, criminal justice freshman, have all suffered season-ending injuries, leaving the team short of substitutes.

Springer has a completely torn MCL in her right knee, incurred in the game against Louisiana College last week. She will need to keep her knee immobilized for eight months. Olukoton sprained her ankle, and Budahn broke her nose in five places in the game against Spring Hill.

The injury came as a bit of a shock to Budahn.

“The hit came out of nowhere. I didn’t know I was bleeding until the referee told me to get off the field, and I wasn’t allowed back on,” she said.

According to Alford, losing Springer was especially hard for the team.

“Claire really is the spirit of the team,” she said. “That might be the most frustrating thing of the season.”

Loyola fell to Spring Hill last Saturday, 3-1. Lindsay Diak, biology freshman, scored the lone goal for the ‘Pack.

Alford said that after last week’s disappointing loss to Louisiana College, the team had a meeting to discuss “why such a good team, with a lot of talent, could lose so many games” that they had the opportunity to win.

Alford said the team is excited about the ‘Pack’s final game on Sunday, but will appreciate the much-needed time off.

“Soccer is a physical game, and we have a lot of injuries that are aggravated by fatigue and overuse,” Alford said. “Once the season is over, we look forward to recovering, relaxing, and recuperating.”