On Saturday the UWRF women's soccer team will be hosting its “Playing for a Cause” soccer match. The Falcon soccer team chose to dedicate their match to the American Cancer Society to raise money and create awareness for pancreatic cancer.

Each of the nine Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's soccer teams is participating in the “Playing for a Cause” campaign. Throughout the 2011 soccer season, each team hosted a match where they create awareness and support for a certain cause of the teams' choice. This is the first year that the nine WIAC teams are “Playing for a Cause”; it began because, “It was one of those things that the conference proposed and the coaches endorsed,” said Sean McKuras, the UWRF women's soccer head coach.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which the survival rate has not greatly improved over the years. This specific type of cancer is a leading cause in cancer death because it is difficult to detect the disease in early stages because we do not have the necessary tools in order to detect the disease when it is possible to surgically remove the tumor. As a result of not being able to detect tumors in early stages, the average life expectancy after diagnosis is a mere three to six months.

According to McKuras, “The team chose pancreatic cancer as the cause to promote because of Leah Hagen. She's a junior and a true leader for the team. Her mother was diagnosed with it during the preseason this year and the team wanted to help support her.” Hagen really appreciates all of the support her teammates and coaches have provided her. Hagen said, “Not many people know a lot about this cancer so I want to make people more aware of it because it's one of the most deathly cancers. It means a lot to have my team here to help me raise awareness.”

During the soccer match, the players will be wearing purple jerseys and socks because Hagen's mother chose the color. These special jerseys will be will be put into a silent auction, open to the public, after the match to raise money for awareness.

McKuras also went on to say, “The harsh reality of why we are doing this lingers in the background. Leah is a private and humble person. For her to come out and raise awareness for this issue is a big deal and we want to do what we can to support it.” Supporting Hagen throughout the season has given the team a sense of pride that will not be affected by a win or a loss at its match this Saturday; just the sense of supporting her and raising awareness for pancreatic cancer is enough to continue to give the team pride.

Be sure to cheer the UWRF women's soccer team as they take on UW-Whitewater on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Ramer Field as they Play for a Cause!