Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman plays before her injury against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday, April 15. Photo by ISI Photos.
Washington Spirit midfielder Joanna Lohman tore her ACL during the team’s first game of the season and will have to sit out the rest.
The 2017 National Women’s Soccer League kicked off this past weekend with the Washington Spirit playing North Carolina Courage. Not only did Washington lose at home 1-0, but starting midfielder Lohman tore her ACL in her left knee 22 minutes into the game.
Lohman suffered the injury right before McCall Zerboni made a goal for North Carolina in the 18th minute.
She took to her Twitter on Monday morning to confirm her injury and that she will be out for the remainder of the season.
“To my fans, friends, and Spirit Family,” she wrote, “it is with an incredible amount of sadness that I inform you I tore my ACL. This team and everyone involved helps me in ways I can never fully express, so I’m most disappointed that I won’t be able to help our mission on the field. My heart is shattered but I know each of you will help by picking up one of the pieces and putting it back in its rightful place. And because of you, I will be whole again so very soon.”
Lohman’s injury comes at an unfortunate time, as she was expected to be one of Washington’s most vital players for the season. During Saturday’s match after her injury, she was replaced by Line Sigvardsen Jensen.
Hailing from Maryland, Lohman became a professional soccer player in 2008 as a member of the Swedish club Bälinge IF before signing in 2009 with the Washington Freedom of Women’s Professional Soccer league. She has also played for the Philadelphia Independence and the Boston Breakers. She joined the Washington Spirit in 2015.
