Westfield High School field hockey head coach Karen Gomez, second from right, and assistant Linda Rowbotham, third from right, stand alongside Bombers players, left, and a member of the Longmeadow Lancers, far right, in a show of support to fight back against cancer at Thursday’s “memorial” game. (Photo by Chris Putz)
LONGMEADOW – Sports helps build character and teamwork. Sports are a good form of physical activity. Sports provide high school students an outlet, and, at the same time deliver entertainment for family, friends, and fans.
Sometimes the score should be secondary, the win or loss representative of one team’s good fortune to best the other.
On Thursday, that was more evident than ever before as the Westfield and Longmeadow high school field hockey teams joined in a battle for a good cause.
Westfield and Longmeadow battle for a good cause Thursday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Westfield and Longmeadow dedicated Thursday’s game, dubbed “Play 4 the Cure,” in memory of Kevin J. Bouvier, who passed away from cancer last August. Bouvier was the son of area referee, Jim Bouvier, and his wife Patricia.
The Bombers raised $200 for Thursday’s game to benefit the National Foundation for Cancer Research. The Lancers made a memorial donation to Pan Mass Challenge’s “Bikes Fight Cancer,” presented a keepsake prayer shawl to the Bouvier family, and is currently selling pink bracelets and pink ribbon lanyards for “Play 4 the Cure,” and “Rays of Hope.”
Family and friends of Kevin J. Bouvier, the late son of an area official, Jim Bouvier, who passed away from cancer last August, are presented with a keepsake prayer shawl in a pre-game ceremony at Thursday’s Bombers-Lancers’ high school field hockey game in Longmeadow. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“It was great to see sportsmanship displayed on and off the field in the teams raising money for a good cause – to help fight cancer,” said Westfield head field hockey coach Karen Gomez, also the school’s athletic director.
Following a heartfelt pre-game ceremony, which brought tears to the eyes of many, the two teams battled each other, but in spirit waged a war against cancer.
Longmeadow, an annual force on the field hockey field, prevailed.
Margaret Mooney (assist) and Jessie Moriarty scored two goals apiece to lead Longmeadow. Allie Erwin and Ally Quirk also scored for the Lancers.
Quick, Claire Fitzpatrick, Jessie Strassburg, and Hannah Calabrese also had assists.
Longmeadow goalie Kelly Payne made two saves; Westfield keeper Karly Mastello had six.
The final score: Longmeadow 6, Westfield 0.
