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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- A girls' youth soccer team is learning about the dangers of breast cancer through their efforts to help a Monroe County woman.
The Wolfpack 11U team has raised $1,800 to help defray medical costs for Woodsfield resident Angie Dougherty, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form called inflammatory HER2 positive breast cancer. She is currently in stage 3, according to reports.
"We wanted to teach the girls about more than just soccer," head coach Jaclyn (Dutton) Ketter said. "We wanted to teach them some life lessons, and I couldn't think of any better way than breast cancer. It's affected some people in my life, and I'm sure it has affected some of the girls on the team."
Dougherty and her late husband, Herbert "Buck" Dougherty, had twin sons 21 years ago, but one died during birth. She is also the stepmother of twin 23-year-olds. Her husband died in 2022.
Unable to work, Dougherty has been through chemotherapy and is on maintenance therapy every 21 days that continues until November 2024 due to being HER2 positive. She underwent a double mastectomy in August, and as of Oct. 9, had completed her third day of radiation. She will continue radiation for six weeks until Nov. 15.
Team members are Aubree Steadman (Union Local), Audrey Judkins (home schooled), Esmee Henry (Bridgeport), Annie Martin (Union Local), Avelyn Agnew (Martins Ferry), Emma Hamilton (Union Local), Trinity Guerin (Union Local), Sarah May (home schooled) and Addy Hatcher (Union Local), Leah Woodruff (Union Local), Liza Cain (Bellaire), Elena Griffith (Union Local), Julee Yahn (Bridgeport), Austyn Locke (St. Clairsville), Abby Donley (Martins Ferry St. Mary's), Nora Core (Martins Ferry St. Mary's) and Anna Thornton (home schooled).
Ketter, formerly Jaclyn Dutton, still holds the Ohio High School Athletic Association state soccer record - male or female - for career goals scored at 192. Her assistant is her husband, Scott Ketter.
"We've partnered with (WVU Medicine) Wheeling Hospital to meet Mrs. Dougherty and have our girls give her homemade cards and the money raised," Ketter said.