The Arizona women's club ice hockey team has struggled with coaching, player and financial issues since its inaugural season, but nothing prepared the team for the news that one of its own was struggling with cancer.
Junior defenseman Lauri Corso, 20, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago.
"It's a disease that is hard to diagnose because most of the symptoms, just like being bloated or cramping, you just associate that with your period," Lauri said. "I had this cyst that ended up being a cancerous tumor for four years before anyone decided to test it because it doesn't cause problems."
Lauri was diagnosed in stage two of the disease, which meant the cancer had spread to her ovaries and fallopian tubes.
She was lucky because most women do not get diagnosed until the third or fourth stage, which can be terminal.
After learning she had cancer, Lauri was in denial and refused to see a doctor for a month.
"I was scared out of my mind," she said. "I was like, 'Am I going to die? How's this going to affect my life? Am I going to be able to have kids?' There was an overwhelming amount of questions that I had."
Lauri eliminated the option of having a hysterectomy, or getting her uterus removed, because she wants to have kids.
After eight months of chemotherapy she was able put on her skates again and hit the ice. Nevertheless, playing hockey would not be as easy as before.
"The first game against ASU I noticed myself constantly falling or not being able to focus as much," Lauri said. "I would just feel weak being on the ice for 30-second shifts, which normally is a good amount and you're not tired. I would be completely drained and I would go home and crash for days."
In the locker room
When teammates heard the news about Lauri's cancer many of them were shocked.
"It was hard because she's not that much older than I am," said sophomore Abby Silberman, an alternate team captain. "I realized someone my age could have cancer, somebody who was an athlete, did well in school and all this stuff. You know, it just really hit close to home."
First-year head coach and former Icecat player Torben Sluyter was adjusting to his new duties at the helm.
"I heard about the cancer after the fact, almost kind of like, 'Oh yeah, by the way, Lauri has cancer,'" Sluyter said.
Although Sluyter did not know Lauri before the cancer, he knows that she's playing with passion on the ice.
"I sure admire the fact that she's not letting it get her down. She's out there doing what she loves, playing hockey," Sluyter said.
During a tournament in Washington against Montana, Lauri's season almost came to an end.
While skating full speed, a girl from the other team came from behind and fell on Lauri, causing her to go head first into the boards.
The game was called because the Wildcats were up 4-0. The other results? A sprained neck, a concussion and no hockey for a week.
"When I showed the doctor the video of the accident he went, 'Holy shit, you're lucky you're not paralyzed,'" Lauri said. "He said (with) injuries like that you can be paralyzed or even killed."
More than just hockey
Although the cancer left Lauri drained and at times depressed, she managed to find happiness.
At work, she slowly developed a friendship with Joe Corso. Their 20-year age difference did not bother the two, and they continued to hang out.
"He found out I had cancer and he just started harassing me," Lauri said jokingly. "He made sure I went to all my treatments."
To help strengthen his relationship with Lauri, Joe took her on weekend trips - hiking at Sabino Canyon and other activities –- before her treatments.
During a weekend trip to San Francisco, the couple decided to take a detour to Las Vegas. With a security guard as their only witness, the two got married on Sept. 6.
When Lauri's parents found out their youngest daughter got married in Sin City they were not exactly gushing.
"My mother was a little bit happier than my father, but they hadn't met Joe yet, so my mother was a little sketchy. But when she met him she loved him and was really excited," she said. "My dad's still a little pissed."
Before Lauri started dating Joe, she knew there was something strikingly interesting about him.
"I actually told one of my teammates, 'I am going to marry him,' and she was like, 'Whatever you're crazy,' and I was like, 'I'm serious,'" Lauri said.
Serious or not, Lauri and Joe have been together every step of the way to battle her disease.
"I was just there for support," Joe said. "It's Lauri's never-ending drive force that keeps everything going."
The Future
This season has been one of the best for the Icers. With Sluyter taking over coaching duties, the team has seen improvements. They ended the season 5-3-4.
"Last season at this point we probably would've been 3-9," Silberman said.
The team said it has had more fun than in previous years and seen the number of fans increase every game.
"It's a pretty new sport on campus and it's improving by leaps and bounds," Sluyter said.
Lauri definitely plans on playing ice hockey again next season.
"I keep getting better and better and hopefully I'll find out I'm cancer-free," she said.
Lauri said her doctors have told her she has an 80 percent chance of being cured in the next five years.
Even though Lauri has been through a lot during the past two years, she said she knows everything happens for a reason.
"As much as it sucked, I learned a lot about my own personal strength," she said.