A female high school hockey player was cheered on by a packed arena Monday night in her first game back since facing sexist and derogatory chants at a game last month.
The goalie, who plays for Mars Area High School in Mars, Pennsylvania, was cheered on by strangers and classmates alike who applauded her for continuing to play despite the criticisms.
More than 1,000 people packed into a local arena for a game that would normally draw around 200 spectators, according to ABC affiliate WTAE-TV
“I think it takes a lot of courage for women to step into a field that’s so male-dominated, and it’s scary," Mars Area High School student Gillian Porter told WTAE. "So I hope that people can learn to respect them more."
The female player, whose name is not being used to protect her privacy, was bullied at an Oct. 28, 2021, game when students from the opposing team's school, Armstrong High School, chanted at her from the stands, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Videos of the students' chants were then shared on social media.
The school faced disciplinary actions after the game, including Armstrong students being banned from attending the school's hockey games and its hockey team being placed on probation for the remainder of the season, according to the AP.
Mars Area High School hockey coach Steve Meyers told the AP after the Oct. 28 game that the girl is the only goalie on the team's roster and has started in all of the team's games this season. She is also not the first girl to play high school hockey locally, according to Meyers.
"We’ve had plenty of girls in this league before and never heard anything like this," said Meyers. "With all the training we’re required to do as coaches about safe sports and sportsmanship, this should not happen. For it to fail this badly, it’s really disappointing.”
The hockey team issued a statement after Monday's game thanking the crowd for their support and applauding the goalie for staying in the game.
"We have a lot of respect for the way our goalie has handled herself and how she refuses to let any of the recent events keep her off the ice. Her determination is admirable," the team said in a statement. "We are also beyond appreciative of the showing of support for her tonight. We were pleased with the way our Mars hockey family as well as the hockey community at large has responded and rallied around her. We feel that the support and positivity seen here at this game is a better reflection of what hockey is all about. Thanks to all in attendance for making this a special night."
The goalie declined interviews after the game.
Some of the posters held up in support of her at Monday's game featured sayings like, "Girls Rule," and "Girls Rock."
Another poster photographed at the game read, "She overcame everything that was meant to destroy her."
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