Cougar Field Hockey Scores against Cancer

Throughout high school sports, perhaps the most commonly used cliché is "It's more than just about wins and losses." Well it hasn't been all talk with the Columbia field hockey team this season.

Over the past month the Cougar girls have been donating $20 for every goal they score at every competitive level, including freshman, junior varsity and varsity, to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. So far they've totaled 18 goals, which adds up to $360 - but with five varsity, four junior varsity and five freshmen games left in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Columbia isn't finished just yet.

While third-year Columbia head coach Maggie Singler was cleaning up her garage, she stumbled across a box of pink field hockey balls and the idea just clicked. Nearly everyone has been touched by breast cancer or some form of cancer in some way, and Singler is no different.

"My father died of cancer years ago, he was actually diagnosed during my senior year field hockey season," Singler said. "He was the team's biggest fan and I always coach each game with him in my heart."

When she approached her players about the idea, a few weeks into the season, she was greeted with willingness and enthusiasm. All of her players thought it was a good idea.

"I thought it was pretty cool. It's just a great way to motivate us to score goals," said Columbia co-captain Samantha Storch. "Before it was we need to score to win. Now it's we need to score to win and raise money."

"It really does motivate us to score goals," said co-captain Evan Woolridge. "When the pressure is on, we know that it's more than just for us."

In addition to raising money and thus raising awareness, this month long fundraiser has also raised team spirit and camaraderie. Now instead of varsity , jv and freshmen standing as separate teams, this fundraiser has brought them together. They all want to see how many goals the other has scored.

So far varsity is in the lead with nine goals, but the freshmen team is close behind with seven, while the jv has added two scores. The freshman team picked up two wins over Millburn this season - a team they had lost to repeatedly over the last four seasons.

In addition, this team fundraiser has also coincided with the Cougars playing better and putting themselves in a position to possibly qualify for the playoffs. Through the first month of the season Columbia's varsity squad went 1-6. Since the beginning of October the Cougars are 3-4.

Perhaps the greatest testament however is that other teams have taken notice of what the Cougar girls have been doing. They've been setting an example for something that is both an on the field and off the field accomplishment at the same time. Coach Singler said that if the fundraiser proves to be successful, that she hopes that it spreads to all of the teams at Columbia next season.

For anyone who would like to also donate money for goals scored by the Cougar girls this season should email Singler at Cougarhockey2005@yahoo.com.