The fate of sophomore Lee Catchpole remains in limbo as he awaits an Oct. 31 doctor's appointment to find out if he will be cleared to suit up for the men's soccer team's Mid-American Conference playoffs.
Catchpole suffered a second-degree concussion and a possible broken cheekbone after a collision in the first half of the Bulls' home game against Bowling Green on Oct. 14. Since losing its leading scorer, the team has gone a disappointing 2-1-1 while recording a tie and a loss in must-win conference match-ups.
Whether Catchpole will come back to the Bulls, or undergo surgery immediately, will be determined by his visit with a specialist on Monday. Head coach John Astudillo said whatever the doctors decides is best for Catchpole is what the team will carryout.
"It's a simple situation," said Astudillo "Whatever the doctor says goes. Whether he plays is totally up to the doctors. He'll be seeing a surgeon to determine if he will need surgery or not."
This makes the time second time in as many years that the sophomore has suffered a serious injury. Last season, nine games into the year, Catchpole broke his ankle in a 1-0 loss to Oneonta. Catchpole's ankle break caused him to miss the last six games of the regular season, before coming back for the team's two playoff games.
The Bulls' first MAC playoff contest will be held on Nov. 8. The team's opponent and location of the game is yet to be determined.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
