Wake Forest's Katie Stengel (center) may be done for the season due to blood clots. (Photo Copyright Steve Bruno for The Equalizer)
Wake Forest senior and three-time All-Amreican Katie Stengel’s season may be over. The school announced Stengel is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, commonly known as blood clots, in her left leg.
Stengel, the school’s top scorer this season and all-time leading scorer, has begun treatment that includes blood-thinning medication, which prevents her from playing soccer. Graham Hayes of espnW reports that she will be on blood-thinners for three months, which would end her season.
[MORE: Stengel rounding out game at Wake]
Hayes also reports that Stengel’s coaches are handling (and presumably then exploring) the prospect of Stengel being granted a hardship year, which would allow her an extra year of NCAA eligibility due to medical hardship. Stengel also missed a significant portion of her junior season due to the U-20 World Cup, which the United States won. Hayes reports that Stengel “would be open to another year” of college soccer instead of go professional in the National Women’s Soccer League, which is projected to have a loaded senior draft class (including Stengel) for the upcoming season.
“While Katie is irreplaceable on the field, our primary concern is her health and well-being,” said head coach Tony da Luz. “We will support Katie through her treatment and are hopeful that she will be able to come back and finish out her senior season.”
Stengel has six goals and eight assists this season for the 8-3-2 (3-2-2 ACC) Demon Deacons. She has 50 career goals and 124 all-time points. For now, though, the only matter of importance is Stengel’s health.
