Netting more than just goals
Published 9:17 pm Thursday, April 21, 2016
The FC United Xplosion U-17 girls’ soccer team raised money for the American Cancer Society by scoring goals during the month of October. Members of the team hold the check signifying that they raised $516. Front row, from left: Taylor Corbin, Cydney Nichols and Hannah Marston; back row, from left: Natalie Stratton, Skylar Wall, Rebecca Washburn, Peyton Killman, Kamarie Jewette, Destiny Neal, Madison Van Dyke, Emily Wright, Leigha Arcand and Daijah Norris. (Photo submitted by Karen Jewette)
Being good at soccer can translate into more than just goals and wins.
The FC United Xplosion U-17 girls’ soccer team had developed a habit of wearing something pink during games in October to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2015, the team decided to step things up.
“This was the first year we did an actual fundraiser,” team coach Mike Marston said.
This was not just any fundraiser but one in which they could actively participate while on the field playing games.
The girls raised money for the American Cancer Society by scoring goals during the month of October.
Marston said his players, which include four King’s Fork High School players and two Nansemond River High School players, approached people and asked them to pledge an amount they were willing to donate.
“It really varied by whatever the person wanted to commit to,” Marston said. “Every goal the team scored, they would pay us an amount.”
The FC United Xplosion U-17 girls’ team scored 12 goals in October 2015, raising $516 for the American Cancer Society.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Marston said of his players. “It’s something that has touched them all.”
During their time with the Xplosion, King’s Fork junior Cydney Nichols and Hampton Roads Academy junior Leigha Arcand both have seen their mothers diagnosed with breast cancer.
Nichols said, “I didn’t know whether she was going to see me graduate from high school, see my sister graduate from high school.”
Both mothers have emerged as survivors.
“So that’s one of the reasons that this cause was near and dear to the team’s heart,” Marston said.
King’s Fork sophomore Hannah Marston, who also plays for the Xplosion, said, “It meant a lot to me to help future people with (breast cancer).”
“It was a great honor to do that,” Nichols said.
Knowing that October goals helped more than just the team was a powerful motivator for the Xplosion team members.
“I think that made us work 10 times harder,” Nichols said. “It was a good cause.”
Nansemond River junior Kamarie Jewette said, “It made us feel like what we were playing for meant so much more.”
Hannah Marston noted, “We had a very successful 2015 soccer year, and we did very good in October, and it just meant more to us to score.”
