In late September of last year, the Hokie women's soccer team was off to a great start - it was 5-2 and coming off a three-game win streak.
In its next game, on Sept. 1, it suffered a dramatic double-overtime defeat to the James Madison University Dukes, but that was not the biggest loss it suffered that Sunday evening.
Then-sophomore Marika Gray, a star forward who had been a regular starter since arriving at Virginia Tech as a freshman in the fall of 2007, left the game with just minutes remaining in regulation.
What was thought, at first, to be only a minor knee injury ended up being a season-ender for the attacker.
As a freshman, Gray not only started 16 of the Hokies' 18 games, but she became the first player in five years to lead the team in both goals and assists, with eight and six, respectively.
Gray represented the future of the Hokies and had proven that she was instrumental to the Tech attack.
In her first eight games of 2008 leading up to her injury against JMU, Gray recorded eight starts. Even though she missed 15 of 23 total games, she finished third at the end of the season in goals and assists on the team.
Despite the loss of Gray, the Tech women's soccer team finished the season with a winning record, including five victories over ranked opponents and a trip to the NCAA tournament - all without its former-leading scorer.
This fall, Gray is back and ready to make her presence felt again.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Gray said. "Not 100 percent, but just getting back. It's just good to be out here playing and stuff. Even though fitness is hard, it just feels good to be able to do it."
Senior attacker, and last year's leading scorer, Emily Jukich is eager to see how the return of Gray will impact Tech's season this year.
"She's awesome. We're so happy to have Marika back," Jukich said. "I love playing up front with her, and she's just a force to be reckoned with. I know she's going to do damage in the ACC."
Three games into this season, the Hokies have a 2-1 overall record. Gray has already made her presence felt, scoring her first goal of the season and the lone goal in the Hokies' victory over Lehigh on Sunday.
"We're really pleased, mostly with her attitude and willingness to kind of jump back on. You never know psychologically how people are going to come back," head coach Kelly Cagle said.
Gray is, however, still recovering from her injury.
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