If you go ...
Teams: Dodgeville at Monroe
What: Miriam's Match, a fundraiser for Miriam O'Neill. O'Neill was Monroe's girls varsity soccer coach until she stepped down after last season for health reasons.
When: 6:45 p.m. Friday
Where: T.R. Holyoke Field, Monroe High School
MONROE - Katie Coplien played soccer for coach Miriam O'Neill at Monroe High School, and she was excited to become the girls junior varsity soccer coach so she could coach with her mentor.
Sadly, that experience lasted less than one season. O'Neill coached the Cheesemakers for 13 years before she had to step down as she battles two diseases. O'Neill has myelofibrosis, a blood cancer, and about one year ago she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and the skin.
The Monroe girls soccer team is dubbing its first home game on Friday "Miriam's Match" in honor of O'Neill. Wristbands will be for sale during the event, and there also will be a 50-50 raffle on Friday. The proceeds from the wristband sales and half of the proceeds from the 50-50 raffle will be given to O'Neill.
"She helped start up the soccer program, and she put a lot of years into the program," Coplien said. "She left her mark on the program and my life. I don't know where this program would be without her."
Coplien was excited when she was named the JV girls soccer coach last year. She looked forward to coaching with O'Neill.
"I was really excited when I found out that I would be coaching with her side by side," Coplien said.
O'Neill missed the Cheesemakers' final five games last year due to her battle with dermatomyositis, which made it difficult for her to move and walk.
"She's such a strong person," Coplien said of O'Neill. "She didn't complain or ever want to talk about it. She just kept coaching. Last year, I could tell it was affecting her because she wasn't as excited and out there playing in practice as much."
Coplien met with the three Monroe varsity girls soccer captains this season - juniors Kennedy Ludwig, Reily Pond and Ally Einbeck - to come up with a way to honor O'Neill. Dedicating the Cheesemakers' first home game to her seemed like the best decision.
Ludwig, whose older sister Gabby also played soccer for O'Neill at Monroe, understands how much she means to the soccer community in Monroe.
"Miriam has done a lot for the program," Ludwig said. "Besides being a coach she's a good role model. It's nice to be there when she's going through such a hard time."
Pond said the community needs to know how much O'Neill did for the soccer program and that younger girls will have a chance to play soccer in high school because of her commitment.
"We want to spread awareness and raise money for what she is going through," Pond said.
When the Monroe players are introduced and head to midfield at the start of the game Friday each one will have a red or blue carnation. The red carnations are symbolic of O'Neill's fight with myelofibrosis, and the blue carnations symbolize her battle with dermatomyositis. The carnations will be collected in a vase and given to O'Neill. If she's not at the game, the team will have the flowers, proceeds from the wristband sales and raffle, and a video of the game given to her.
O'Neill will decide if the proceeds are invested into finding a cure for the two rare diseases she has, Coplien said.
Sadly, that experience lasted less than one season. O'Neill coached the Cheesemakers for 13 years before she had to step down as she battles two diseases. O'Neill has myelofibrosis, a blood cancer, and about one year ago she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that affects the muscles and the skin.
The Monroe girls soccer team is dubbing its first home game on Friday "Miriam's Match" in honor of O'Neill. Wristbands will be for sale during the event, and there also will be a 50-50 raffle on Friday. The proceeds from the wristband sales and half of the proceeds from the 50-50 raffle will be given to O'Neill.
"She helped start up the soccer program, and she put a lot of years into the program," Coplien said. "She left her mark on the program and my life. I don't know where this program would be without her."
Coplien was excited when she was named the JV girls soccer coach last year. She looked forward to coaching with O'Neill.
"I was really excited when I found out that I would be coaching with her side by side," Coplien said.
O'Neill missed the Cheesemakers' final five games last year due to her battle with dermatomyositis, which made it difficult for her to move and walk.
"She's such a strong person," Coplien said of O'Neill. "She didn't complain or ever want to talk about it. She just kept coaching. Last year, I could tell it was affecting her because she wasn't as excited and out there playing in practice as much."
Coplien met with the three Monroe varsity girls soccer captains this season - juniors Kennedy Ludwig, Reily Pond and Ally Einbeck - to come up with a way to honor O'Neill. Dedicating the Cheesemakers' first home game to her seemed like the best decision.
Ludwig, whose older sister Gabby also played soccer for O'Neill at Monroe, understands how much she means to the soccer community in Monroe.
"Miriam has done a lot for the program," Ludwig said. "Besides being a coach she's a good role model. It's nice to be there when she's going through such a hard time."
Pond said the community needs to know how much O'Neill did for the soccer program and that younger girls will have a chance to play soccer in high school because of her commitment.
"We want to spread awareness and raise money for what she is going through," Pond said.
When the Monroe players are introduced and head to midfield at the start of the game Friday each one will have a red or blue carnation. The red carnations are symbolic of O'Neill's fight with myelofibrosis, and the blue carnations symbolize her battle with dermatomyositis. The carnations will be collected in a vase and given to O'Neill. If she's not at the game, the team will have the flowers, proceeds from the wristband sales and raffle, and a video of the game given to her.
O'Neill will decide if the proceeds are invested into finding a cure for the two rare diseases she has, Coplien said.
