KU Soccer Surprises Ailing Teen with Watch Party

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas soccer team surprised 13-year-old Annalise Bohm with a watch party Thursday for the United States vs. Germany World Cup match. Bohm, who suffers from a rare auto-immune disorder, enjoyed the game and lunch with a dozen members of the KU soccer team inside the Jayhawks’ locker room.
 
“It always feels good to be able to put a smile on someone’s face who has been battling so much adversity,” said senior Caroline Van Slambrouck. “Hopefully this gave Annalise a release from what she’s going through, even if it was only for a couple of hours.”
 
Bohm, who hails from Auburn, Kansas and describes herself as one of KU soccer’s biggest fans, arrived at Allen Fieldhouse for what she believed would be a tour of the facility. She quickly found out that was not the case after she was met by several players and led to the team’s lounge where she was met by several more members of the Jayhawk squad ready to watch the game. After meeting and talking with the players, Bohm and the team settled down for the U.S.-Germany World Cup match, which ended in a 1-0 Germany win.
 
Along with enjoying a catered lunch with the players, Annalise was gifted with a signed and personalized Kansas soccer jersey, as well as other Jayhawk soccer gear. The players even joined with her in a team huddle and a Rock Chalk chant before leaving.
 
The Jayhawks will begin preseason practice on Aug. 1 before kicking off their 2014 campaign Aug. 22 versus Wyoming at newly-opened Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence.
 
 
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