Alexandra Elston knows exactly what it’s like to tear an anterior cruciate ligament.

The junior midfielder on the ASU soccer team has heard the pop, seen the surgery and aided in the recovery — it was a unique experience all her own.

The only difference here is that Elston has never had to suffer any physical pain from a tear.

“I watched one of our teammates’ ACL surgeries last year,” Elston said. “When [redshirt freshman forward] Leeza Henderson went in and had surgery on her knee, I talked to the doctor, and he said I could come watch. So I got to see Leeza get her surgery — that was pretty cool.”

Her interest in medicine, and Henderson’s injury in the 2008 season, presented Elston with an opportunity many collegiate athletes would likely shy away from.

“I’ve always been interested in medicine,” she said. “My grandpa was a surgeon, and I always thought maybe I did want to go to med school.

That’s the track I’ve been on — I’ve had med school in mind and [physician’s assistant] school in mind.”

But even though the career has always been an idea, Henderson’s surgery was Elston’s first real-life experience in the operating room.

“I had scrubs on and sat in the back,” she said. “I got to peer over and watch it. I was good — I didn’t feel like I was going to faint or anything, which is always a good relief when you want to go to med school.”

It was in this element that Elston decided the career she had chosen was one worth pursuing. As a speech and hearing science major Elston is making her way in the pre-med program.

But maintaining her grade point average in order to pursue medical school isn’t the only thing Elston has on her plate.

As a student-athlete, she manages class work, plans to begin volunteering at local hospitals and continues to make an impact on the soccer field.

“I think there are certain people out there who are going to excel at everything they do, and she is one of them,” ASU coach Kevin Boyd said. “She is extremely successful in the classroom and extremely successful in everything else she tackles, whether it’s soccer or academically in the pre-med major.”

Last weekend Elston scored the only two goals for the Sun Devils, both of which came off of headers, in their 2-1 overtime win against San Diego State. Her performance not only suggested that her junior year promises more experience, but an improved talent as well.

“She’s starting to put the ball away with her head, which is something we really like,” Boyd said. “She’s good with her head on two-shot pieces. We haven’t gotten much with that, so for her to become dangerous in that area helps. She is a set piece taker when it’s with her feet in close, and she’s extremely dangerous that way.”

Reach the reporter at emiley.darling@asu.edu.