Cailyn Roeble is one of five Tigers to be honored on 2010 Senior Night, dressed in pink to promote cancer awareness.

Springfield, Ohio — When Wittenberg women's soccer Head Coach Norm Riker met with his team prior to the first practice of the 2010 season, he included a team-bonding activity in which players discussed challenges they had overcome in their lives. Time after time, cancer was mentioned, which hit particularly close to home for Riker.

Inspired in particular by his wife, Gabrielle, a breast cancer survivor, the memory of the late Wittenberg coach and athletics director Pam Evans Smith, class of 1982, and the on-going battle against colon cancer being waged by the mother of Maureen Buckley, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio, Riker and his student-athletes have arranged for a very special Senior Night game. When they hit the pitch at Edwards-Maurer Field to take on North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Kenyon at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Tigers will be decked out in new pink uniforms, while goalkeeper Melissa Gartner, class of 2013 from Cincinnati, Ohio, will wear purple.

Pink and purple are colors used in cancer awareness campaigns, and it won't just be the Tigers sporting those shades. Kenyon will wear black jerseys with their traditional purple and white trim, and the Ladies will be wearing pink socks to show their support for the cause as well.

"The players and coaches on both teams wanted to make an effort to support cancer awareness and also show solidarity to the friends, families and others who have been impacted by cancer," said Riker, who earlier this year became the first women's soccer coach in Tiger history to reach the 100-win plateau. "Also, unique to Wittenberg, our department of athletics is launching a new initiative called the Tiger GamePlan. In the GamePlan, there is an engagement piece, and the women's soccer team has identified cancer awareness and visiting patients at Dayton Children's Hospital as two causes we feel strongly about supporting.

"This game is just a small gesture to let others know that the Tigers are thinking of them."

The game is a big one in the 2010 NCAC regular season title chase, with the four-time defending conference tournament champion Tigers entering the week in third place, while the Ladies are in fifth. Only the top four teams qualify for the annual NCAC Tournament.

The Tigers have five seniors they hope to send out on a high note. In addition to Buckley, Kelly Foley, class of 2011 from Dublin, Ohio; Maggie Amorello, class of 2011 from Sutton, Mass.; Cailyn Roeble, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio; and Erin McLeish, class of 2011 from Dublin, Ohio, will be celebrated in their last regular season appearance in Springfield.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence

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