This is the time when fatigue may set in, and players are known to complain a little about having to go through the daily routine of practice.

Lizzie Dalsey can't empathize with anybody who wants to take a day off. For the West Deptford senior, who recently returned from a broken collarbone, each day on the pitch should be savored.

"My teammates may say maybe they don't feel like playing one day, and I remind them that you can't take every day for granted because you don't know what will happen," Dalsey said.

Such sage advice is the product of a career that has been marked by brilliance and, unfortunately, injuries.

The broken collarbone, which occurred during a preseason scrimmage, was just the latest adversity Dalsey has had to endure.

A fourth-year varsity starter, Dalsey missed about a month as a sophomore when she suffered a stress fracture in the calf area.

Last season, she was also shelved for about a month with an ankle injury.

This season's injury was particularly upsetting to Dalsey, because there was no guarantee that she would return.

"There was a lot of negativity, and I kept hearing from others who had similar injuries that I would likely miss the season," Dalsey said.

Offsetting the negative vibes were the comforting words of coach John Cobb. The influence a coach has on a player, either positively or negatively, can be dramatic. A coach's words can either be soothing or deflating. In the case of Cobb, it was the former.

"Coach Cobb kept telling me he knows how strong I am and that I should keep striving to come back," Dalsey said.

So she tuned out the doomsayers and worked in her typical diligent fashion. Lo and behold, Dalsey was back on Tuesday and scored the game-winning goal in a 3-0 victory over Sterling. Dalsey also added an assist. Her return not only boosted her own spirits, but also West Deptford's as well. Facing the Eagles with a healthy Dalsey in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament will be no picnic.

Cobb says that one of the reasons that Dalsey has suffered injuries is that she plays so hard. Dalsey agrees.

"I don't back down," she said.

And she takes her training extremely seriously.

"She is always one of our most fit players and has a motor that never ends," Cobb said.

Dalsey stands 5-foot-7, but when it comes to winning a 50-50 ball, it's like going against Andre the Giant.

"I will go to any ball and am not afraid of what people do to me," she said.

It's this type of toughness that has endeared her to Cobb and her teammates.

The best news is that Dalsey reports her collarbone isn't bothering her. It may take a few games to get back into soccer shape, but as her performance against Sterling showed, Dalsey isn't easing herself back into action.

She isn't sure if she will keep playing soccer on the next level, but all Dalsey knows is that she hopes to extend her season as long as possible.

There is nothing she can do about the time lost, so Dalsey goes on the field each day, appreciating the chance to play, with a true understanding about how special it is to compete in a sport she loves.

or mnarducci@phillynews.com.