Waukesha, Wis. -- On Wednesday, October 19, the Carroll University women's soccer team will be teaming up with Lawrence University for the first annual Mental Health Awareness Game (AKA The Green Game) brought to you by The Hidden Opponent. The Pioneers and Vikings will kickoff at 7:30 PM in Schneider Stadium.

"This topic is relevant, impactful, and real," says Head Women's Soccer Coach Susie Foster when talking about the importance of this event. "The gravity of having two programs, players, staffs, and universities stand together to start a conversation about a topic surrounded by stigma and be a voice for student-athlete mental health, is both powerful and courageous."

The Hidden Opponent is an accredited non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health and addresses the stigma within sports culture. The Hidden Opponent brings mental health awareness directly to college campuses through passionate student ambassadors known as campus captains. Carroll University's campus captain is junior forward Elizabeth Weinberg. Weinberg creates and organizes programming on campus that works to improve culture and promote conversations about mental health. "My search to be a louder voice and to speak up about mental health stems from my own experiences and the desire to want better for those around me and those coming after me," says Weinberg. "I hope my voice will inspire others to have raw conversations, to ask, learn and reach out knowing that each of these moments will make a difference."

"I think mental health is a critical, yet often overlooked, piece of a student-athlete's wellbeing that demands our attention as coaches," says Foster. "Our student-athletes are shouldering stresses that cannot be ignored, and it is imperative that we support each of them in every way possible through their successes and struggles, both visible and invisible."
At the end of the day, Weinberg wants the average person to know that the Hidden Opponent and campus captains like herself are working hard to change the way mental health is perceived in athletics, "I know how hard these conversations are, and I want the message to reach and be heard by all those involved," quotes Weinberg. 

In a partnership, Lawrence University's program is jumping at the opportunity to team up with the Pioneers for the cause, "By being a part of this game, shows our student-athletes, their peers, and each other that there is more to life than the game. We can be each other's rocks, mentors, guidance, and support systems," says Lawrence's Head Women's Soccer Coach Joe Sagar. "We are extremely proud to be a part of this event and we thank Coach Foster and Carroll University and their athletic department for allowing us to showcase resources for people to help with their mental health."
 
Proceeds from prize drawings during the game will be donated back to The Hidden Opponent. Admission to the event is free, but donations will be accepted at entry. 

Carroll and Lawrence will be wearing green warm-ups during pre-game, to show unity in the fight about ending the stigma on student-athlete mental health. Both teams encourage all fans in attendance to wear green to show support for the cause.