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Courage - By Mike Lynch

Courage
By Mike Lynch

The Arlington Catholic girls soccer team just completed the first undefeated regular season in school history. This team has good coaching, talent, skill, drive and one powerful motivating force – their junior goalie, Liz DeBenedictis.

Liz had allowed just one goal in the first five games of the season when suddenly she felt weak and tired. Liz was diagnosed with leukemia, her season was over.

While Liz was wagering her courageous fight with an enemy that has no conscience, her teammates immediately dedicated themselves and their season to Liz. They wore green headbands, a symbol of leukemia awareness, to every practice and game. Before each game they write the word “Fight” on their wrist to remind themselves of the fight Liz is enduring. There are visits to the hospital, phone calls, e-mails and texts. The girls on the team never stop thinking about Liz and her challenge.

There are stopwatches to measure speed, yard markers to measure distance but it is impossible to measure the human spirit. Liz’s cause has propelled this team to play above anyone’s expectations and Liz expected nothing less from her friends and teammates. Liz has been in and out Children’s Hospital since late September.

I visited with her at her Arlington home one day and we talked about her battle and how much her teammates constant support and love has helped her endure. Liz never asks, “why me?” She told me she has “really good friends and if I can get through hard days, there is always a good day around the corner.” She has no doubt she will beat this thing and told me she is planning on “playing second base on the softball team” in the spring.

I have no doubt that this will happen thanks to her family, friends and teammates. Liz has found out quickly that teammates are forever.

INDEX


Jul 15, 10 King of What? - By Mike Lynch



May 14, 10 Triumph and Courage - By Mike Lynch



Apr 30, 10 Like Father Like Daughter; Alex Carpenter Is Carving Out Her Own Legacy



Apr 30, 10 The Year to Remember Continues for Former VJW Player Chris Kreider



Apr 20, 10 Keeping #5 Alive - By Mike Lynch



Apr 16, 10 Tournament Action Returns to Haverhill in 2010



Apr 10, 10 Magical Season Comes to an End for VJW '97 Elites at USA Hockey Nationals



Apr 9, 10 A Class Act - By Mike Lynch



Apr 8, 10 VJW '97 Elites Loss Sets Stage for Third Day Showdown at Nationals



Apr 8, 10 VJW '97 Elites Post 3-2 Win Over Columbus at USA Hockey Nationals



Apr 6, 10 VJW '97 Elites Arrive in New York; Prepare to Take On Nation's Best



Apr 2, 10 Former VJW Junior A Player Colin Mulvey Captures NCAA National Title



Mar 22, 10 VJW '97 Elites Prepare for USA Hockey Nationals



Mar 21, 10 Chris Kreider - Former VJW Standout - Leads BC to NCAA Tournament



Mar 17, 10 Nothing is Impossible - By Mike Lynch



Sep 8, 09 Valley Jr Warriors Excel at Labor Day Face-Off Invitational



Mar 15, 10 Former VJW Junior A Star Cucci Shines in Hockey East Battle



Mar 14, 10 VJW Mite Selects Bask in NEHL Championship Glory



Mar 14, 10 VJW '97 Elites Punch Ticket to USA Hockey Nationals in April



Mar 14, 10 VJW '99 Selects Celebrate Mass State Select League Championship



Mar 14, 10 VJW '98 Elites Capture New England Hockey League Title



Mar 7, 10 Former VJW Junior A Standout Nets Year-End League Honors



Mar 5, 10 Non Sibi - By Mike Lynch



Feb 22, 10 What Can You Do For Brown? - By Mike Lynch



Feb 11, 10 VJW Squirt Major Selects Make a Difference Both On and Off the Ice



Feb 11, 10 VJW Squirt Major Selects Take Time to Help Others In Need



Feb 5, 10 Valley Jr Warriors Coach Bob Sweeney Joins Beanpot Hall



Feb 3, 10 Tewksbury Tough - By Mike Lynch



Jan 5, 10 VJW Teams Battle For Titles at the 2010 JWK Holiday Tournament



Jan 19, 10 VJW '98 Elites Jonathan Folsom Featured in Local Newspaper



Jan 18, 10 Standing Tall - By Mike Lynch



Jan 5, 10 VJW '98 Selects Capture Boston Jr Terriers Tournament Title



Jan 4, 10 Taking the Pledge in 2010 - By Mike Lynch



Dec 31, 09 Valley Jr Warriors '98 Elites Take On Bell Capital Cup Challenge



Dec 28, 09 Former VJW Standout Chris Kreider & Team USA Are World Champions



Dec 23, 09 Former VJW Star Kreider Named to the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team



Dec 23, 09 VJW '97 Elites Take Their Game to Canada



Dec 17, 09 Holiday Shopping List - By Mike Lynch



Dec 14, 09 Haverhill Valley Forum Enjoys Its Fourth Year of Operation In Style



Dec 11, 09 Eastern Junior Hockey League Featured in Recent USA Hockey Magazine



Dec 6, 09 Walking Tall - By Mike Lynch



Dec 4, 09 Former VJW Players Shine On Collegiate Scene



Nov 18, 09 Call to Glory - By Mike Lynch



Nov 15, 09 14th Annual Warrior Classic Comes to a Close



Nov 15, 09 VJW Teams Battle at Mass State Championship Playdowns



Nov 12, 09 Riki Retelle Earns EJHL Defensive Player of the Week Honors



Nov 12, 09 VJW Teams Set For Mass Hockey Tier I & Tier II State Championship Playdowns



Nov 10, 09 Valley Jr Warriors Junior As Enjoy Weekend Sweep Over CD Selects



Nov 8, 09 Welcome Home - 4 VJW Teams Return After Strong Showing in Chicago



Nov 6, 09 Courage - By Mike Lynch



Nov 1, 09 VJW Teams Poised to Face the Best of the Best



Oct 30, 09 VJW Junior A Team Making Big Strides



Oct 13, 09 VJW U-16 IIs Continue Winning and Championship Ways



Oct 20, 09 The Golden Tornado - By Mike Lynch



Oct 20, 09 VJW '95 Elites - Picking Up Where They Left Off



Oct 20, 09 Steve MacAdams Brings Experience & Success to VJW



Oct 25, 09 USA Hockey Announces H1N1 Recommendations



Oct 5, 09 No Early Season Jitters for the VJW '98 Elites



Oct 5, 09 Great Expectations - From Mike Lynch



Sep 29, 09 VJW Mite Minors Off to a Fast (and Fun!) Start



Sep 22, 09 VJW '99 Selects Make a Difference On and Off the Ice



Sep 21, 09 VJW U-16 Midget Standout Brian Ward Heads to Dartmouth College



Sep 16, 09 VJW Teams Post Impressive 5-1 Record Against Team Comcast



Sep 16, 09 VJW '96 Selects Skate to Victory at Summer Cool-Off Tournament



Sep 15, 09 Tom Terrific - Mike Lynch Reflects on Tom Brady



Sep 8, 09 Valley Jr Warriors '98 Elites Capture WNS Title



Sep 9, 09 VJW - Junior A Season Preview



Sep 2, 09 A Happy New Year From Mike Lynch



Aug 18, 09 VJW's JJ Layton Heads to Little League World Series



Jul 19, 09 VJW Players Shine at 2009 USA Hockey Player Development Camp



Jun 29, 09 Chris Kreider Selected No. 19 in 2009 NHL Entry Draft



Jun 18, 09 VJW Tournaments Make a Return to Haverhill in 2009



Jun 1, 09 VJW Junior A Team Welcomes Two Key Players for 2009-10 Season