Parents Channel Grief into Soccer Tournament for Mental Health Awareness
‘Abbi’s Cup’ Honors Teen Lost to Suicide, Fights Stigma
A Houston family is transforming personal tragedy into a powerful force for change, using the sport their daughter loved to confront the silent battles of adolescent mental health.
Remembering Abigail’s Spirit
Abigail Agosta, remembered by her parents Monica and Paul Agosta, was a vibrant AP student with a passion for soccer, mountain climbing, and the ocean. She approached life with a fearless independence, her father recalls, noting her courage as a soccer goalie.
“As a goalie, it’s really the only position in soccer that you have fear, but she didn’t.”
—Paul Agosta, Father
“She wasn’t afraid of the deep water, she wasn’t scared of sharks, she wasn’t scared of a girl kicking a ball 75 miles an hour right at her face.”
—Paul Agosta, Father
Battling OCD and Depression
At age 12, Abigail was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which her mother explained often manifested as an eating disorder, with OCD as the underlying cause. The relentless nature of the disorder left her exhausted.
“For Abbi, it was from the minute she woke up till she went to bed at night, so she was exhausted. She would often say, ‘Can I get a new brain?’ Her brain was broken.”
—Monica Agosta, Mother
Despite efforts with traditional therapies, Abigail’s condition progressed to depression and suicidal thoughts. She died by suicide in March of the previous year at 16.
‘Abbi’s Cup’ Fosters Open Dialogue
To honor Abigail’s memory and address the mental health challenges facing young people, Paul and Monica established Abbi’s Cup. This annual soccer tournament aims to normalize conversations around mental illness.
The event features not only friendly competition but also on-site mental health professionals to engage attendees and educate them about mental health conditions. This initiative seeks to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.
Expanding the Reach of Mental Health Support
Paul and Monica aspire to expand Abbi’s Cup nationwide, creating a platform for open dialogue between young people and their parents about mental health struggles and effective coping strategies.
The second annual Abbi’s Cup is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, beginning at 8 a.m. at the South Campus fields at Stella Link and W. Bellfort. During halftime, participants will engage in small group discussions led by sports psychologists.
The initiative aligns with a broader effort to address the teen mental health crisis. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year (NAMI).