Calling all Wildcat soccer fans! We are now in the second half of the season and after a much needed team chat, we have decided our losing streak must end! Still hopeful to make playoffs, we must reach within our competitive and passionate selves to pull out a few more wins against some of our toughest components. A few recent games have diminished our sense of luck but it has allowed us to reflect.

Real teams and real athletes do not rely on luck to win games or to rise above as underdogs. Instead, they put their nose to the grindstone and work for achievements and success. It’s tough to imagine a team as skilled as this young Wildcat squad has faced defeat, but it is now within our control to decide what we want the rest of the season to look like.

While commitment is key, heart and passion is vital. I believe guts and grit will give us the tools we need to mark “W’s” on the score sheets.

Now, with all of that said, there are a few matters of business the Wildcats need to take care of. During Fall Family Weekend, the Wildcat Girls Soccer team will be wearing pink to raise breast cancer awareness. In bright, bubble gum pink, the name Autry will be worn on the back of each shirt.

Two Williston students, one now graduated, the other finishing her senior year in Oklahoma, Alex and Ashleigh Autry, lost their mom, Vicki, this past summer to breast cancer. Ashleigh was an advisee of mine and through frequent correspondence I had the pleasure of getting to know Vicki very well. She loved Williston and everything it was able to give to her children. Vicki fought for over four years and left us a strong and daring woman.

In honor of Vicki, the Wildcats will be raising money to give to a charity of the Autry family’s choosing.  We will be hosting a raffle and a bake sale on Friday night at the boys soccer game and will be selling breast cancer awareness bracelets at meals and around campus.

Please support the Wildcats in the fight against breast cancer and wear PINK over the weekend. We appreciate any support and know that it is going to a wonderful cause.

Pink on the Pitch 2012!