Juniors Mark and Domenic Barone both started in the season opening win at Maryland. Following the victory, Domenic Barone sat out most of the next four matches.

Mark Barone played some of the next two games before sitting out for a majority of the minutes before Sunday’s loss to No. 15 Ohio State.

During those games, the Barones didn’t even think about the similarity of the injuries until a teammate pointed it out.

“It was really weird,” Mark Barone said. “We were both sitting down in the trainer’s office, with the same leg bent, receiving the same treatment, and someone pointed it out.

“It wasn’t the fact of the same injury, but everything at the same time that surprised us.”

Although the team missed the talents of the usual starters, head coach Damon Rensing said it speaks for the overall talent of the team, going 7-2 to start the season.

“When they’re healthy and on, they’re very good players,” Rensing said.

“But we’re going to bring them back slowly, that just shows you the depth of this team.”

In his first start at forward back from the injury, Domenic Barone scored both goals in a 2-0 win against Notre Dame on Sept. 19. He leads the team with four goals, despite missing nearly half the season.

“It felt good,” Domenic Barone said. “When you come back, usually you’re a little bit rusty. But I had to be really patient, to get my confidence back and not think about the injury and those goals really helped with that.”

Being part of the team for three years helped the transition back to game play, Domenic Barone said.

“(Coming back is) frustrating; it’s kind of a struggle, you don’t feel 100 percent,” he said. “But I’m used to playing with these guys, so it’s not too difficult. Mostly it’s just getting back into shape.”

Domenic Barone’s return helped spark the rest of the team in the wins against Notre Dame and Duquesne, senior midfielder Jeff Ricondo said.

“It’s awesome for him to come in and get two goals like that after sitting three or four games,” Ricondo said.

“He might not be healed 100 percent, but he’s back and ready to play. And that’s great.”

Fitness was also Mark Barone’s most daunting obstacle to returning.

“I came in against Northwestern and after running a 40-yard sprint I felt like I was going to have a heart attack,” Mark Barone said. “It’s tough. But I did well in rehab and I played 88 minutes against Ohio State and felt good, not like dying.”

Although recovering from the same injury didn’t offer any extra help, their familiarity with each other is an advantage on the field.

“We’ve been playing together since we were little, we’re used to it,” Mark Barone said. “It doesn’t have that special feeling of buying something new anymore.

“But we’re accustomed to it, so we can pass it sometimes and know each other will be there without even turning around.”