Erin Holmberg overcomes odds for Oliver Ames soccer - Boston Herald

There’s a silent recognition among teammates of everything Erin Holmberg endured and what she consistently perseveres through. While it isn’t a discussion point, their reactions to Holmberg even being on the field for Oliver Ames speaks volumes.

They are quick to check in with Holmberg if she needs a break in the action and even quicker to surround the senior captain in celebration whenever she scores, because less than a year ago, it seemed highly unlikely that would occur when a tumor was discovered on Holmberg’s spine.

Her mere presence has served as a galvanizing force in OA’s early-season success, and she continues to defy the odds by leading OA as its top goal scorer.

“It’s been a big rooting section for her,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “There’s just an excitement to see her go out and play and play the way she’s playing and being such a big part of her team.”

After multiple trips to see doctors for severe pain in her upper body, it took a visit to Boston Children’s Hospital last December for Holmberg to receive a shocking diagnosis.

Surgery was scheduled just five days later with many inherent risks – her tumor was tangled in nerves – and there was uncertainty if the three-sport athlete would be able to play sports again.

Doctors removed 99 percent of the tumor and less than 10 weeks after the operation, Holmberg pushed herself to get back on the soccer field, seeking a sense of normalcy to her life that had been turned up-side down.

Holmberg’s determination allowed her to score in her first game back with her club team, NEFC Breakers, and overcome many obstacles she still faces. Holmberg doesn’t have feeling in her right arm and there’s numbness in both her back and feet.

The soccer field has not only become her oasis but her stage to shine. In a season-opening win over Brockton, Holmberg scored twice and went on to surpass her goal total from last season by notching nine tallies in OA’s first eight games, with seven of those contests ending in victory.

“It makes me so happy being able to play soccer,” Holmberg said. “When I’m playing I just don’t think about my disability with my arm and how I went through it all because I’m able to play and be successful playing.”

Holmberg added: “I didn’t know I could necessarily do so much with the situation that was so big and effected my entire life. I learned that I really can persevere through those type of things.”

For fellow senior captain Olivia Carroll and her teammates, Holmberg is a walking inspiration and playing alongside her isn’t taken for granted.

Even small moments are worth cherishing, like when Carroll puts on her shin guards and cleats and looks over to Holmberg doing the same, because at one point, even that didn’t seem possible.

“Every game when we suit up, I’m just so happy that she’s here right next to me putting her stuff on, too, and we both get to play the whole game together,” Carroll said. “It’s just really fun. I’m just glad it still gets to be so fun.”

Kicks For Cancer

Concord-Carlisle coach Ray Pavlik never envisioned the Lois Wells Memorial Kicks for Cancer fundraising event reaching the magnitude it did Saturday.

It started out as a single game to honor the late mother of assistant coach Steve Wells, but the annual endeavor keeps expanding as 32 teams participated this year, which included two field hockey matchups.

Proceeds from Kicks for Cancer go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the amount of monetary funds collected since the event’s inception in 2007 is staggering. Last year alone, over $112,000 was raised – before this year the event generated nearly half a million dollars in donations – to aid in women’s cancer research.

“We’re at a point now where we really can say we’re doing something that unquestionably makes a difference,” Pavlik said.

Maddie’s Promise

A doubleheader for the Hingham girls and boys soccer teams on Oct. 4 versus Plymouth South serves a greater purpose.

The games will honor Maddie McCoy, who lost a courageous battle with cancer this past May at the age of 11. The event looks to raise funds for rare pediatric cancer research through the newly-formed Maddie’s Promise foundation.

While fighting the disease, McCoy became a key figure for the Harborwomen as the team’s manager and honorary captain.

“She thought of others regularly,” said Hingham girls soccer coach Ryan Puntiri. “A huge inspiration for us to have someone like that around and someone so positive.”