Adalie Schmidt has spent a lot of time on the sidelines the past two seasons. Instead of a participant, Schmidt has been reduced to a spectator far more often than she would like.

While her teammates have struggled to find the back of the net in recent weeks, Schmidt has struggled to simply get back on the field after dislocating her elbow on Sept. 7.

“I knew that there was a chance that I could come back and play this year so just working really hard in treatment and that sort of thing was my main focus,” Schmidt said of the past six weeks.

Coming back from an injury is nothing new for Schmidt. She was reduced to only playing in ten games throughout her injury-plagued freshman season.

After a frustrating freshman campaign, Schmidt was determined to make an impact for the Cyclones this season. After an injury sidelined Maribell Morales, Schmidt’s role was increased drastically.

Schmidt came through in the form of three goals and two assists in the first six games of the season, before suffering the injury that held her out until this past weekend.

“It’s definitely really frustrating,” Schmidt said of being injured again. “I came off of last year and hoped to prove myself this year playing and then a few games in this year I dislocated my elbow so, that was hard.”

In those first six games this season, Schmidt had proved to be an integral part of the Cyclone’s offensive attack.

Though she has played in fewer than half of the games so far this season, she remains the Cyclone’s second-leading goal scorer, 3, and tied for second on the team in assists, 2.

Perhaps even more impressive is the efficiency Schmidt scored with.

Schmidt’s three goals came on only seven shots, six of which were shots-on-goal. Schmidt’s shot percentage, .429, and shots-on-goal percentage, .857, are the highest on the team.

“This season she starts off with three goals, two assists and we have a good chemistry going with our front line and subbing pattern… and then she goes down and we have to readjust and change and adapt to that,” said ISU soccer coach Tony Minatta.

Without Schmidt in the line-up, the Cyclones have struggled offensively. They have yet to score a goal in conference play and are currently riding a six game losing streak.

Early in the season, Schmidt was often the Robin to Koree Willer’s Batman. Willer leads the team with eight goals this season, but has had a sharp decrease since her sidekick was sidelined.

“I’m hoping [Schmidt coming back] takes a little pressure off of Koree, where she doesn’t feel like she has to do it all herself,” Minatta said.

It’s not a quick fix, however. In Schmidt’s first game back, Iowa State lost 3-0 against West Virginia, who is nationally ranked and favored to win the Big 12 conference crown.

Just as the team had to adjust with Schmidt out of the lineup, they now have to adjust as they plug her back into the lineup, Minatta said.

“Getting back out there is a little bit nerve-wracking, but the team is very supportive and helps me with it,” Schmidt said. “Its fun to be back and I just want to help the team in anyway I can.”