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Soccer has been a safe haven for rising Whitman junior goalkeeper Hannah Meyer since she was 5 years old. Meyer's father struggled with substance abuse issues and left when she was 1 year old.
Last week, Meyer helped the next generation take solace from sports.
"It is good for us to be aware of things in the real world," Meyer said. "My childhood was not that great and it makes you really appreciate life so much more."
The Village is a safe and secure residential treatment facility providing a continuum of healing services for severely abused, neglected and at-risk children, according to its Web site. Children staying there, ranging in age from 5 to 14, can receive physical, mental, emotional and spiritual rehabilitation.
Thursday was Meyer's fifth trip to Culpeper. She can relate to the children there and knows the importance of good role models.
She wanted to share the experience with her teammates, who include rising Bethesda-Chevy Chase junior and U.S. U-17 National Team player Alex Doll, rising Whitman senior Kat Barth, who will play soccer at the University of Pennsylvania next year, and rising Good Counsel senior and University of Richmond-bound Crystal Koczot.
Thursday's event started with an inspirational speech from U.S. Olympic wrestler Buddy Lee. The Dragons helped run several stations for the 67 children in attendance, including football, soccer and dance freeze tag.
"These kids just need things like this; it gives them opportunities they might not ever get and someone to look up to," Meyer said. "My sports have taught me discipline and morals. Most of these kids have anger issues. It was hard to keep them from getting into arguments with each other. It is important for us to teach them that if you want to do well and play right, you cannot argue with each other."
Team chemistry can be as integral in teams' success as actual skill level. Most participate in team bonding activities, but it usually involves some sort of group pasta dinner. The Dragons' latest excursion was life-altering.
The Dragons also recently qualified for their first-ever Region I tournament, to be played beginning Thursday, and will play for a spot at nationals.
"I am very lucky," Dragons coach Dave Nolan, who also coaches the Georgetown University women's team, said. "This is the third Dragons team I've coached. The first group was probably the best team in the country. That was a special group. They are seniors in college now. We went to three consecutive national finals. This group is very similar to that group, in attitude, in dedication. This is a great bunch of kids."
