Last season, the Shippensburg University field hockey team was shaken to the core when the news of former player and assistant coach Amanda Strous’ death was revealed on a warm June night, but the team persevered and won a national title with her in mind.

The Raiders, came into the season as the pre-season No. 1 team in the country, and a member of the team is now facing a battle much greater than trying to repeat as a national champion. She is fighting for her life.

Junior forward Megan Hart from Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, was fighting through extreme fatigue in the pre-season and was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocyte white blood cells, according to cancer.gov. ALL typically attacks healthy blood cells, making it harder for the patient to fight infection.

With Hart’s diagnosis, the team has taken it upon themselves to support her, wearing orange T-shirts with the phrase “HART STRONG” on them, as well as orange bracelets and bows, while raising money for the Four Diamonds Fund, which is a foundation that works to provide medical expenses and support to children and their families as they battle childhood cancer, with proceeds going toward Hart’s recovery. Orange is the universal color for leukemia awareness.

“We knew Meg was watching and I get a little emotional talking about it, but she’s been fighting to get through this on the road to recovery and it really inspires each one of us,” SU head coach Tara Zollinger said. “We want to be there to support her, and she’s supporting us so much its incredible what kind of young woman she is, and we’re here with her every step of the way.”

“For the whole team, it was really rough when we found out about it, but we really want to dedicate this entire season to her and win each game, game by game for her,” SU forward Rebecca Bouyea said. “We are wearing orange on our socks and some of us have bows we wanted to do so it’s really bringing us closer together as a team.”

Hart is undergoing intensive inpatient chemotherapy treatments at Penn State’s Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and is struggling to build up her immune system. Hart expects to be in the hospital undergoing her first round of treatments until about mid-October, according to Hart’s mother, Michelle.

In her absence, the team came out against the No. 2 team in the country — and bitter rival — East Stroudsburg University on Wednesday and had a dominant performance in a 4-1 victory. SU poured in endless shots, using Hart as their motivation, while also hoping to avoid harsh criticism from their biggest supporter.

“We are really inspired by Megan and we hope that we can make her proud game by game,” Zollinger said. “I visited her last week and she was watching our game against Mansfield and was on us saying we needed to play better in the second half, so we’re listening to her and working hard to make sure we play for her and we make her proud.”

Last season the team was devastated by the news that Strous had been murdered in her Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment, and her death motivated the team to reach new heights under former head coach Bertie Landes. 

The excruciating circumstances led SU to a magical run that brought the team closer together. 

“Last year we had our 12th man on the field and knowing that her presence was there really helped us, and it helps knowing that every game Meg is watching us and critiquing us from her hospital room,” Bouyea said. 

“In the second half Wednesday Tara pulled us aside and said that Meg was watching our game, so let’s make sure we play hard in the second half so that she doesn’t make a comment next time I go see her. Even though it is hard to know that she is going through this, I think it really gives us determination to go out and do everything for her.”

For the Raiders, the unselfish style of play is what helped elevate the team on its way to a title, and with another source of tremendous motivation, the Raiders are well on their way to a successful season, as they currently sit at 8-1.

“I think last year we played for someone other than ourselves, and I feel like playing like that and with Amanda’s help, we were able to win nationals,” Bouyea said. “This year, we have an opportunity to play for Meg and know that with every game she is with us watching and cheering us on.”

With the hardship of a teammate fighting a difficult battle it can be extremely challenging for the team, but with a family atmosphere, the team continues to focus and play for something much bigger.

“It’s definitely emotional, and emotions are hard to deal with. Sometimes the emotions can be positive and sometimes they can be negative,” Zollinger said. “Once we step on the field we have Meg in the back of our mind thinking that at practice, if Meg was here she’d be fighting for every single ball and she’d never give up, so that’s what we’ve been working to try to do for her.”

The Hart family is extremely gracious for all the support it has received from the SU community. 

“We have taken such comfort in the support she has received from Shippensburg University,” Michelle Hart said. “Our appreciation is beyond words.”

While Megan continues her battle, her teammates will continue to fight on the field with her as the main source of motivation.

Shippensburg University’s field hockey team will be collecting money at half time of SU’s remaining home games for the Four Diamonds Fund to directly support Hart’s recovery. If you cannot make it to a remaining home game and would like to donate, visit www.fourdiamonds.org.

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