As the Eastern women’s soccer team battles for position in the OVC playoff rankings, one of their own is waging a very different battle off the field. 

She is Hannah Heinz. In high school, she was a three-sport star in Washington, Ill., just outside Peoria. She is a junior psychology major at Eastern and a defensive midfielder on the women’s soccer team.

And back in April, Heinz was diagnosed with cancer. 

She has been undergoing treatment at the St Jude Clinic in Peoria since. 

But throughout Heinz’s journey, her teamed has remained a constant presence in her life and recovery. 

On Oct. 11, the team hosted the “Hope for Hannah” match. 

The team wore special green socks and headbands for the match, and donations were collected for the St. Jude Clinic in Peoria. 

Some in the crowd wore their “Hope for Hannah” tee shirts that were sold in the weeks leading up to the match, with the proceeds also going to the clinic. 

Heinz was occupying the sidelines during the match, as she has all season long. After the match ended, Heinz spoke about the support she has received from her teammates since her battle began.

“These girls are my sisters, and they go above and beyond for me,” Heinz said. “We decorate the field and locker room for senior day every year, and I came in and my locker was decorated.”

Heinz also said that she had to decide this season whether to remain on the sidelines during treatment or step away. She said it was a very easy decision.

“Being down here on the sidelines with my best friends, it’s the best medicine you could have,” she said. 

Even on days she has appointments in Peoria, she does not like to be away from the team for long.

“I live two hours away, and yesterday I had a clinic appointment. So I had to drive back home in the morning to get that done,” she said. “And then I came right back, within six hours of leaving. I love being down here with (the team).”

Last season, Heinz was tied for the team lead with three goals and eight points. And although she has been unable to play this season, Jake Plant, the women’s soccer head coach, spoke about how having Heinz on the sidelines is not only beneficial for her, but for beneficial for the team as a whole.

“She is a shining example of what we all want to be as human beings,” Plant said. “She’s a very good soul of a person. Any time you have that on the bench, on the field or in your family… it’s a joy to be around. She’s facing such adversity and she’s kicking its ass.”

As for her progress in the treatment process, Heinz said that she is almost finished with the second-to-last phase in her treatment. After that phase is over, she will enter the final phase, which will last until the end of this year. 

“Then I’ll be in maintenance for two years, so we’re at the home stretch. Maintenance is the goal,” she said. “We’re pretty close. It seems long, but we’re pretty close.”

Heinz also said that her battle with cancer in the last six months has put her experiences in college and college athletics into perspective. 

“It’s shown how much these relationships mean to you and what they can do for you,” she said. “I will have the relationships for the rest of my life. I’m so thankful that Eastern brought that to me. The outreach that this school has given and the help they have provided for me is something that I can never repay.”

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].