LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- Answering the challenge given by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Bellarmine University women's soccer team held the program's first annual Crossbar Challenge last week to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The SAAC set a goal for each of Bellarmine's athletic teams to do two service projects throughout the year with one going towards Make-A-Wish, the official charity of NCAA Division-II. Through the crossbar challenge, the women's squad raised more than $500 for the foundation.

Each member of the team was required to raise at least $20 worth of tries at hitting the crossbar, with each try being worth $2. Donations could come from family, friends, or anyone who was interested in helping out. In addition, each player was also asked to collect prizes from various local businesses.

On the day of the fundraiser, each girl would take as many attempts at hitting the crossbar as her raised money allotted for, and the player who hit the crossbar the most times would win the prizes for the people who donated to her.

Since forming a partnership in 2003, NCAA Division-II and the Make-A-Wish Foundation have raised more than $1.9 million through contributions from student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans. Through these donations, Make-A-Wish has been able grant countless wishes to kids with terminal disease.