WEST CHESTER TWP.

The Lakota West High School girls soccer team will get a glimpse of its past this weekend and celebrate the programs rich tradition with several former players all while honoring a lost peer.

The Firebirds, who are 201-98-43 in 17 seasons, will host their second alumni event 7 p.m. Saturday at the high school turf stadium.

Admission is free but donations and other proceeds will go to the Childrens Hospital Medical Center for brain tumor research in honor of West volleyball player Lauren Hede, who passed away from a brain tumor earlier this summer.

(The event) is something we started last year, and it went over so well we thought wed do it again, second-year coach Jan Bennett said. When we unfortunately lost Lauren Hede, we felt drawn to donate to that charity. A lot of the girls on the soccer team were friends with her, and we felt drawn to do that this year just to show our support.

Last years inaugural alumni versus varsity game was such a success, West was able to expand the rosters to make it an all-alumni event. Bennett said about 30 former players have signed up, but she expects some walk-ins as well.

Among those expected back will be the three Comisar sisters who all played at West before going on to college programs Stephanie (Class of 2003), Katie (2003) and Kim (2001). The Firebirds won a state title in 1999 and won six Greater Miami Conference titles in their first eight seasons from 1997 to 2004.

We had so many alums come back last year, we wanted to get them more playing time so we decided to make it alumni versus alumni, Bennett said. Its a nice way to kick off the season. Lakota West has always had a rich tradition in soccer and we want to thank our alumni for what they started. Its nice to see past players come back.

The event will include raffles, a split the pot drawing and halftime goal-kicking contest. Current players also will be available for autographs and will be introduced at the game, along with youth who attended the teams camp this summer.

We had a good crowd last year, and we really hope its even better this year, Bennett said. Its a great cause, and it should be a lot of fun for everyone.

Read this article:
West alumni event to honor late volleyball player