Rivals with a Cause

Both the Floyd Central and New Albany girls soccer teams will be going pink this Thursday in an effort to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research.

The game between the two local rivals — entitled “Passionately Pink for the Cure” — is sure to bring out a big crowd at Floyd Central (8 p.m.). It will be preceded by a boys’ varsity game between the two schools (6 p.m.), and half of the gate proceeds will go towards the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Donations will also be taken at the venue.

The Bulldogs will be wearing hot pink T-shirts and socks, while the Highlanders will be suited up in light pink shirts with white socks.

New Albany coach Julie Deuser said she got the idea from her own high school team, East Jessamine (Ky.), who played its crosstown rival West Jessamine (Ky.) last year in a successful fundraising game entitled “Rivals with a Cause.”

“I spoke with one of the coaches about it and he said it was great for the girls and the community,” Deuser told “Kick It.” “I thought it would be a good idea for our girls to get involved in this since so many of us know someone suffering from cancer. When I spoke with the Floyd Central coaches, they were very interested and excited to be involved.

“We hope to bring some recognition and awareness to breast cancer as well as raise money for research to one day find a cure for this disease. It is going to be a great event.”

Highlanders’ girls’ coach Lewie Stevens said he loved the idea when it was presented to him by Deuser, and both schools' athletic directors got on board immediately.

“What we hope to achieve is awareness about this disease that touches so many families,” said Stevens. “As a coach of a girls’ team, I think it is particularly important and appropriate to try and highlight prevention and early diagnosis. Our girls can benefit by being aware of something that may potentially affect them either directly or indirectly.”

Stevens said they also hope to raise the level of attention that girls’ soccer gets around the community.

“If nothing else, we would like to get the kids at (Floyd Central) down to the field in big numbers for support,” he said.

Meanwhile, the game itself is much anticipated. New Albany, going into it unbeaten (7-0-1), will be confident of reversing last year’s 3-0 sectional final defeat against Floyd Central.

The Highlanders (4-4-2), however, will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s 2-1 defeat to another rival, Providence. On Saturday, it had a scoreless tie against Columbus East, and had the same 0-0 result against Seymour last night (Tuesday).