On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the Hingham Girls Varsity Soccer Team played against Quincy High School in a 6:30 pm night game to raise support for Morgan’s Message. This organization motivates students to advocate for student-athletes’ mental health at their school. Morgan’s Message started after Morgan Rodger, a D1 lacrosse player at Duke, tragically committed suicide. After feeling tremendous pressure as a student-athlete and receiving a shattering knee injury, Morgan isolated herself and her depression from loved ones. This organization provides educational resources and partners with athletic communities to raise awareness and normalize mental health.
The game attracted a large amount of fans as well as a student section, many wearing teal in honor of the cause. Before the game, the girls varsity captains from Hingham spoke to the crowd about the organization and the importance of remembering Morgan and supporting student-athletes in our own community. Sydney Bowyer, one of the captains, remarks, “Many student athletes feel pressure from balancing school and athletics, which are both very demanding. It is important to address these feelings before the buildup of stress weighs you down.” The Hingham Girls Varsity team wore teal ribbons, eyeblack, and bracelets in honor of Morgan throughout the game.
Hingham started out with a bang, scoring the first goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. They soon followed with more, scoring four in just the first half alone. Both teams fought aggressively against each other, with many fouls called throughout the game. The final score was 6-0 with goals scored by juniors Amelia Griensner, Taylor Bello, Maggie Flynn, and Vivian Sichol, along with sophomore Rachel Oliwa and freshman Zoe Jones. This was Maggie Flynn’s first varsity goal, a terrific header off a corner kick by Rachel Oliwa. Maggie reflects, “I have always dreamed of hearing my name on the loudspeaker, announcing that I scored for the Harborwomen, but I never imagined scoring in such a meaningful game. I am a very big advocate for mental health and the importance of teaching others how mental health is just as important as physical health, so Morgan’s Message already meant a lot to me. Scoring was just an amazing bonus.”
Many student-athletes like Morgan feel tremendous levels of stress due to high pressure to perform exceedingly well in all aspects of their life. As a community, we can support one another by recognizing signs of poor mental health and providing help to those who need it. If you or a loved one is experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. Reach out to a trusted loved one or call the suicide hotline at 988.
