College Park, MD (U-WIRE) -- When senior midfielder Matt Aksionoff trudged onto the field for Senior Day, there were no statistics to rattle off or awards to rehash. Aksionoff's most distinguishable trait was he was still making that senior walk despite two major knee injuries.

After scoring his first career goal against Penn Saturday in his final regular season game, Aksionoff got his name into the Terrapin men's lacrosse history books.

Still, even after being asked about how it felt to get his first career goal on his second career shot, Aksionoff gently turned the question around to talk about his team.

"First of all, I'm just really happy that we came in here and took care of business as a team. To me that's the most important thing," he said after the game. "It was nice to play. It's been a long four years and things haven't gone my way. I had some injuries that kind of held me back. But I'm glad I'm still here. I'm glad I play for Maryland, and today was fun."

Aksionoff's career barely had time to begin before it was already on a downward spiral. After seeing time in two games his freshman year, Aksionoff tore a ligament in his left knee, taking him out for almost all of his sophomore season.

Almost exactly a year later, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which required surgery and kept him out his entire junior season. In three years, Aksionoff had only one shot and two ground balls to his name - both of which came against Mount St. Mary's his freshman year.

"I really haven't had the best of luck," Aksionoff said. "So I came out this year. I didn't ask for anything. I didn't expect anything. I'm just glad to be a part of Maryland lacrosse. I just stuck it out for four years and I am proud of that. Many years from now I'm going to value the friendships that I made and experiences I've had."

Faced with the decision to simply leave lacrosse, a choice many wouldn't have faulted him for considering his health problems, Aksionoff kept rehabbing his knees to the point where he could at least help the team in practice and hope for some game time.

But there was no doubt his role had changed. Aksionoff knew that, and he accepted it willingly.

"I think some of the guys look to me and say 'This guy kind of had it tough and he's still around. I respect that.' I knew my role," he said. "Physically I don't deserve to be on the field having a lot of time. I'm just not as physically as strong as some of the other guys running and stuff with my knees. My role is just to be a good guy on and off the field and help the young guys."

That includes freshman midfielder Andrew Urquhart, who is Aksionoff's roommate on road trips, including the trip to Penn.

"I've gotten to know him pretty well over the last few months," Urquhart said. "It was really exciting with all that he's been through with the two knee injuries. You could tell he was really excited once he scored. Four years and all the hard work he's done, to get a goal in the last game of the season, you can't get any better than that."

When the Terps went up 10-2 with five minutes, three seconds left in the second quarter, coach Dave Cottle gave Aksionoff a chance at creating one of his most lasting memories. He delivered on his chance.

Aksionoff took a pass to goalie Greg Klossner's right and turned his shoulders, firing a shot into the back of the net. In the context of the game, the Terps' 18th goal didn't matter much as they went on to win, 21-6. The Terps did little celebrating after notching yet another goal in route to their largest total since 1998.

But Aksionoff was psyched. It was his first collegiate chance to pump that fist and he made the most of it, just like his chance.

"The guys were really stoked. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends," Aksionoff said. "They are my best friends. They're like family to me. I know they were excited for me and I know they would do anything to help me out. I couldn't ask for more."

Cottle was also pleased.

"All of our guys were excited when he scored," Cottle said. "For him to go through so many injuries and score in this game, it was a feel good story for all of us."

(C) 2004 The Diamondback via U-WIRE