When disasters -- national or man-made occur -- sports teams, especially those which are non-revenue producers at high schools, are often vulnerable. But field hockey teams tend to rise above the chaos and develop bonds that are beyond friendship and kindship.

* September 11, 2001 presented obstacles and opportunies to stand united.

* A sniper terrorized two states and the District of Columbia, threatening more than one state tournament and truncating the season for some teams.

* Forest fires in 2003 halted sports seasons for an entire week in southern California.

* Hurricane Isabel slammed through southern Virginia and tore through the fabric of Virginia Beach and its environs.

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