Windsor Locks Goalie returns to field after cancer battle

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WFSB) - Sports have the power to inspire us, bring out the best in us, and make the impossible possible.

At Windsor Locks High School, sophomore goalie Andrew Vincent is showing us all what true strength looks like.

When he is not protecting the goal, cheering on his teammates, or playing video games, Andrew has been in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is a rare form of cancer that has completely changed his life and the lives of everyone around him.

“There were definitely times where I didn’t even know if I would go back to soccer,” Andrew said. “So I have just been persistent through all of this that I have to get back to it.”

His mother, Kristine Vincent, said, “If you can get through cancer and leukemia, you can get through anything. And I think he is really taking that to heart.”

The news that Andrew had gone into remission made his return to the field even more special.

“It was definitely a great feeling to get back there and get back playing,” Andrew said. “I have grown up with these guys all my life, so it is great to play with them on the field again.”

Andrew is only halfway through his treatment, but the idea of playing again has motivated him every single day since his diagnosis.

“He was at tryouts every night and had chemotherapy every single day in that hospital before tryouts,” Kristine said.

“All my life I have just wanted to play college soccer,” Andrew said. “That has been my number one goal. All I have been thinking about through this is how can I get back to the field.”

Andrew transferred back to Windsor Locks so he could play alongside his best friends again.

“He originally was at the middle school in Windsor Locks, then he moved to Suffield, and we were all kind of bummed,” said sophomore midfielder Zach Byrnes. “But when he came back it was just awesome. Especially that he gets to play with us now. It is amazing.”

“The determination that he shows every day is something the boys all pick up on,” said head coach Nile Rozie. “There is a lot going on off the field that we do not always see, but his effort and mindset on the field is what we rally around.”

“To see him do something he loves so much and get back to that is just a blessing,” Kristine said.

For his courage on and off the field, Andrew Vincent is our Porter and Chester Institute Athlete of the Week.