Colorado State University Athletics
Taylor Steinke From Sideline to Stalwart
10/31/2019 10:34:00 AM | Women's Soccer
FORT COLLINS, Colo.- After beginning the season with an unfortunate knee injury during preseason practice, junior forward Taylor Steinke wanted anything but to be stuck on the sidelines.
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"During player-led practices, I get in this competitive mindset and when I went to try and make a play, I ended up tearing my MCL," Steinke said. "That was the first serious injury I've ever had, so it was hard for me because preseason is the time where players find their groove and build relationships; it was bad timing and a tough time to miss."
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The Rams were left without a key role offensively heading into this season when Steinke suffered the injury during a contact practice in July. However, during her two-month recovery process, she took on a new responsibility with the team.
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She was a mentor and a peer coach. She counseled and encouraged. By being away, she bonded.
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"Being injured gave me a different perspective because my focus became less on the competitiveness and more about supporting my teammates," Steinke said. "The only thing I could do with my injury is to learn and be there for my team when they needed it, so that was the role I had to take and it was a learning process, but ultimately I got closer with everyone."
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Steinke was able to make it back for the Rams before beginning conference play and made her season debut against the Denver Pioneers, setting up senior Caeley Lordeeman up for a clean shot to gain her first assist for the season.
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The Rams were in a groove without her, but infecting Steinke back into the fray proved an added punch is always welcome.
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"It's hard to put into words what we're missing as an offense when Taylor isn't out there with us," Lordeeman said. "I never doubt when she comes on the field that she is going to give everything she has to help the team win. Taylor is something special, and we're only getting better when we have her."
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The Rams offense has continued surging with the help of Steinke. It didn't take her long to set a personal single-season record with four goals, putting her at eight for her career.
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Steinke only has her teammates to thank, as she attributes her team and personal success to their relationships growing on and off the field.
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"This team has a completely new dynamic this year," Steinke said. "We're all starting to create our own identity, and the relationships on the team are growing. I feel so close to everyone on and off the field, and I think that's translating to the success we're having this season."
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Steinke now sits third for the Rams in goals this season, as she put on a show with two against the UNLV Rebels and helped her team secure a bid for the Mountain West Championship Tournament.
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"We have a lot of players putting up multiple goals, and historically we haven't seen that from our program until this year," coach Bill Hempen said. "Taylor is helping in a way that's letting us open up others to score instead of relying on the support from a single player. It's amazing because four goals can make a big difference on the success in a season, and you can tell right now that she's feeling more confident in front of the net."
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With the team set to head into their final conference game at home against Wyoming on Friday, Steinke and the Rams are looking to build off of their confidence in hopes of securing the three-seed in the Mountain West standings.
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"During player-led practices, I get in this competitive mindset and when I went to try and make a play, I ended up tearing my MCL," Steinke said. "That was the first serious injury I've ever had, so it was hard for me because preseason is the time where players find their groove and build relationships; it was bad timing and a tough time to miss."
Â
The Rams were left without a key role offensively heading into this season when Steinke suffered the injury during a contact practice in July. However, during her two-month recovery process, she took on a new responsibility with the team.
Â
She was a mentor and a peer coach. She counseled and encouraged. By being away, she bonded.
Â
"Being injured gave me a different perspective because my focus became less on the competitiveness and more about supporting my teammates," Steinke said. "The only thing I could do with my injury is to learn and be there for my team when they needed it, so that was the role I had to take and it was a learning process, but ultimately I got closer with everyone."
Â
Steinke was able to make it back for the Rams before beginning conference play and made her season debut against the Denver Pioneers, setting up senior Caeley Lordeeman up for a clean shot to gain her first assist for the season.
Â
The Rams were in a groove without her, but infecting Steinke back into the fray proved an added punch is always welcome.
Â
"It's hard to put into words what we're missing as an offense when Taylor isn't out there with us," Lordeeman said. "I never doubt when she comes on the field that she is going to give everything she has to help the team win. Taylor is something special, and we're only getting better when we have her."
Â
The Rams offense has continued surging with the help of Steinke. It didn't take her long to set a personal single-season record with four goals, putting her at eight for her career.
Â
Steinke only has her teammates to thank, as she attributes her team and personal success to their relationships growing on and off the field.
Â
"This team has a completely new dynamic this year," Steinke said. "We're all starting to create our own identity, and the relationships on the team are growing. I feel so close to everyone on and off the field, and I think that's translating to the success we're having this season."
Â
Steinke now sits third for the Rams in goals this season, as she put on a show with two against the UNLV Rebels and helped her team secure a bid for the Mountain West Championship Tournament.
Â
"We have a lot of players putting up multiple goals, and historically we haven't seen that from our program until this year," coach Bill Hempen said. "Taylor is helping in a way that's letting us open up others to score instead of relying on the support from a single player. It's amazing because four goals can make a big difference on the success in a season, and you can tell right now that she's feeling more confident in front of the net."
Â
With the team set to head into their final conference game at home against Wyoming on Friday, Steinke and the Rams are looking to build off of their confidence in hopes of securing the three-seed in the Mountain West standings.
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Players Mentioned
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