Defender returns from season-ending hip injury

For Joe Setchell, the last several months before the season revolved around weight lifting, strengthening his lower body and regaining mobility in his hips at a rehab center.  

That was all the senior defender could do as he recovered from hip surgery. Setchell suffered a season-ending injury in just the second game last year for the Rutgers men’s soccer team.

Yet the Kings Lynn, England, native never had any doubt he would be able to redshirt and resume his final stint with the Scarlet Knights.

“I knew I had the support of people here and the backing of the coaches and the training staff, so I was confident that I was going to come back,” Setchell said. “It was just a long wait, but now I’m back and I’m enjoying it.”

It has also been a challenge, as Setchell tries to help the Knights (1-2-1) recreate the success they enjoyed in 2011 when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.

Head coach Dan Donigan said that team possessed grit, mental toughness and perseverance — traits he believes often trump talent in tight soccer matches.

The Knights receive a dose of that in Setchell, who started 18 games as a team captain two seasons ago.

“He’s a great leader, great guy to have in the locker room,” said sophomore defender Mitchell Taintor. “He’s bigger in the back, so it helps us, and he’s just great overall.”

At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Setchell is Rutgers’ bulkiest defender. As a center back, he commands the middle of the Knights backline.

And alongside sophomore defender Drew Morgan, Setchell returns to form arguably one of the most formidable defensive duos in the American Athletic Conference.

“I wouldn’t put any other guys out there — two hard-nose, tough-as-nails, competitive kids,” Donigan said. “But Joe has to be fit, he has to man mark. He has to do all the things necessary in those crucial moments to not let teams just come at us, and it could be led by him in the back as a senior, fifth-year captain.”

Setchell acknowledges as much. In three of four games this season, Rutgers has relinquished 1-0 leads it never regained with 15 minutes or less remaining in regulation.

The center back understands the backline must push through fatigue and limit its opponent’s time of possession.

“I just feel like as a group we all need to turn it around, but I personally take a lot of responsibility for the results so far this season,” Setchell said. “I think that defensively as a unit we need to press all the way throughout the 90 minutes, as opposed to just sitting back and receiving pressure.”

That passive mentality cost the Knights the most in double overtime Sunday against then-No. 5 Akron, when Setchell set his feet inside the penalty box to stop oncoming Zips defender Andrew Souders. But Taintor, a fellow captain, unnecessarily stuck his foot in and drew the yellow card that awarded Akron the eventual game-winning penalty kick.

It was yet another case of early-season miscommunication, even between captains.

“It happened pretty fast it seems, but looking back on the video, I could have been clearer to Mitchell that I was there,” Setchell said. “There were mistakes all over the field which led to the incident, but I think once again it just shows that defensively we need to make sure we’re good on every single play.”

But time is running out for Rutgers to correct its fundamental errors. Gone is an attitude of embellishing competing well. The Knights know they need to start finding results.

Most importantly, Setchell knows this is his last chance to rally the team.

“I think any senior in their last year, in their last season of eligibility wants to go out with a good season, and I’m no different,” he said. “Being out for a whole year and a half, you don’t take anything for granted now. ... I want to make the best of every opportunity.”

For updates on the Rutgers men’s soccer team, follow Greg Johnson on Twitter @GregJohnsonRU. For general Rutgers sports updates, follow @TargumSports.