PITTSBURGH — Amber Fichter was supposed to be a part of the Duquesne University women's soccer renaissance.

Instead, she's become part of a bizarre statistic.

Fichter recently became the fifth senior member of the 2013 Mars High School girls soccer team to succumb to a torn ACL injury.

The previous four — Karli Paracca, Maggie Sarver, Lydia Dennis and Olivia Haefner — were injured prior to or during last season. Fichter was injured during the Dukes' first practice of preseason.

“That's five in 16 months from the same class,” Mars girls soccer coach Blair Gerlach said. “I've never seen anything like that.”

Fichter's injury was a non-contact play. She was simply fielding a pass.

“The force of the ball, the way I received it, my leg just twisted back in an awkward way and the knee went,” Fichter said. “From talking with the other girls in the past about their injuries, I knew exactly what it was at the time.”

And because of her dealings with her former high school teammates, she knows she'll be back.

Fichter had successful knee surgery last week.

“They all texted me shortly after it happened,” Fichter said. “Unfortunately, this type of thing happens to a lot of people in women's soccer.

“They all come back. Some come back stronger than ever. That's what I plan on doing.”

Paracca is off to a solid start as a freshman soccer player at Kent State.

Dennis will be running track at the University of Pittsburgh this school year.

Fichter shined in her teammates' absence last year, scoring 34 goals and adding 17 assists her senior season.

She tallied more than 80 goals in her high school career after missing a couple of weeks of her freshman season with a broken toe.

Duquesne is 1-1-2 so far this year, scoring just three goals in four games. The Dukes have played a pair of 0-0 ties.

“Amber would have been an impact player for us this season, without a doubt,” Duquesne women's soccer coach Al Alvine said. “She has tremendous speed and a scoring touch.

“She was at the top of the fitness test we give our players to begin preseason.”

Fichter's preseason lasted less than an hour before she got hurt.

“We didn't get a chance to see much, but we didn't have to,” Alvine said of Fichter. “We know what we're getting.”

Fichter is one of nine freshmen on Duquesne's roster.

Of the team's 32 players, 21 are freshmen or sophomores.

The Dukes finished 6-9-2 last season and are 14-30-4 over the past three seasons.

Alvine is in his third year as head coach.

“Amber is one of the recruits we're building the future of this program around,” the coach said. “She's going to have four strong years here.”

Fichter's goals are modest ones.

“I just want to fit in, make plays and contribute to as many wins as I can,” the accounting major said.

“Having friends who have gone through the rehab I'm facing now definitely helps. I know what to expect, how hard I have to work and the timetable I'm on.”

Fichter will be a right midfielder for Duquesne, serving as a wing in an aggressive forward attack.

“I should be able to get my share of goals in this system,” she said.

Alvine is counting on it.

“Her athleticism is what attracted us to her. It's what we're looking forward to,” he said.