MONROE - Whether it's eating an orange or finishing a handshake before a game, the bond among three sets of sisters is on display for the Monroe soccer team.
As Monroe gears up for a WIAA Division 2 regional game against Cambridge-Deerfield today, three sets of sisters on the team, including Katie and Allie Coplien, Leeza and Lez'lee Foley and identical twins Danie and Katie Poppe, are banking on that sibling rivalry carrying them on in the postseason.
The bond between sisters comes in handy on the soccer field. Senior Katie Coplien plays goalkeeper and her freshman sister Allie Coplien plays sweeper.
Katie said there are no two positions in soccer that require as much communication as goal keeper and sweeper.
"There is a chemistry there that is not there with anyone else who is not my sister," Katie said. "There are some groups of sisters on the team. I think that helps with the chemistry on the team."
The Monroe girls soccer team started in 2003, but only fielded a junior varsity team. The first varsity season for the girls program was 2004. The girls soccer program doesn't receive any funding from the Monroe School District. The funding comes from fund-raising by the Monroe Rebels soccer program.
The Rebel soccer program raises money through a Net 'N Ten youth basketball tournament, a brat stand fundraiser at Cheese Days and other community fundraisers.
Both Katie and Allie Coplien started playing YMCA soccer when they were 5 and joined the Monroe Rebel soccer program at 9. Each one of the sisters credits the Monroe Rebel soccer program for giving them their competitive start.
"Rebels taught us to play tougher and helped prepare us for high school soccer," Allie said.
Allie is relishing the chance of playing soccer with her big sister.
"It's really nice I get to play soccer with her in her last year," Allie said. "It's real special."
Before every game, Katie, Allie and Vanessa Studer complete a handshake.
"If we don't do it we get a little bit uneasy about whether we will win the game," Katie said.
Monroe sophomore Leeza Foley said she is competitive with her sister, Lez'lee Foley.
"If we play against each other on separate teams I know she doesn't like to lose and I don't like losing to her," Leeza said.
Lez'lee Foley started playing soccer in fourth grade, but she looks to her sister as a mentor.
"She always helps me when I need help getting a move down," Lez'lee Foley said.
Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill has enjoyed having three sets of sisters on the soccer field.
"I think all of them are competitive in nature," O'Neill said. "They are all strong contributors to the team. Each one of the sets of sisters gets along very well with her sister. It's nice to have that dynamic. As sisters they all work together well."
The Poppe sisters moved to Monroe last June from Pacific, Missouri.
The two started playing soccer at 7 and played on a traveling soccer team in Missouri. Danie said there was a big adjustment when they moved to Monroe.
"The girls were really welcoming and understanding," Danie said.
On the field, the Poppes have found a comfort zone.
"There is an advantage because we have been playing with each other for a long time," Danie said of playing soccer with her twin sister. We know what each other will do. I love playing with her."
Katie said when she and her sister sub in during games, the official often looks at her and says, 'Oh there are two of you."
There is teamwork with the twins.
"If I go with a cross and pass it down the line, she will be there," Katie Poppe said of Danie. "We have always played with each other."
Danie and Katie Poppe always eat an orange before each game.
"We feel like it brings us good luck and energy," Danie said.
O'Neill had a learning curve when it came to rotating the Poppe sisters in as midfielders and forwards.
"I do get them confused sometimes," O'Neill said. "I always feel bad about that."
As Monroe gears up for a WIAA Division 2 regional game against Cambridge-Deerfield today, three sets of sisters on the team, including Katie and Allie Coplien, Leeza and Lez'lee Foley and identical twins Danie and Katie Poppe, are banking on that sibling rivalry carrying them on in the postseason.
The bond between sisters comes in handy on the soccer field. Senior Katie Coplien plays goalkeeper and her freshman sister Allie Coplien plays sweeper.
Katie said there are no two positions in soccer that require as much communication as goal keeper and sweeper.
"There is a chemistry there that is not there with anyone else who is not my sister," Katie said. "There are some groups of sisters on the team. I think that helps with the chemistry on the team."
The Monroe girls soccer team started in 2003, but only fielded a junior varsity team. The first varsity season for the girls program was 2004. The girls soccer program doesn't receive any funding from the Monroe School District. The funding comes from fund-raising by the Monroe Rebels soccer program.
The Rebel soccer program raises money through a Net 'N Ten youth basketball tournament, a brat stand fundraiser at Cheese Days and other community fundraisers.
Both Katie and Allie Coplien started playing YMCA soccer when they were 5 and joined the Monroe Rebel soccer program at 9. Each one of the sisters credits the Monroe Rebel soccer program for giving them their competitive start.
"Rebels taught us to play tougher and helped prepare us for high school soccer," Allie said.
Allie is relishing the chance of playing soccer with her big sister.
"It's really nice I get to play soccer with her in her last year," Allie said. "It's real special."
Before every game, Katie, Allie and Vanessa Studer complete a handshake.
"If we don't do it we get a little bit uneasy about whether we will win the game," Katie said.
Monroe sophomore Leeza Foley said she is competitive with her sister, Lez'lee Foley.
"If we play against each other on separate teams I know she doesn't like to lose and I don't like losing to her," Leeza said.
Lez'lee Foley started playing soccer in fourth grade, but she looks to her sister as a mentor.
"She always helps me when I need help getting a move down," Lez'lee Foley said.
Monroe coach Miriam O'Neill has enjoyed having three sets of sisters on the soccer field.
"I think all of them are competitive in nature," O'Neill said. "They are all strong contributors to the team. Each one of the sets of sisters gets along very well with her sister. It's nice to have that dynamic. As sisters they all work together well."
The Poppe sisters moved to Monroe last June from Pacific, Missouri.
The two started playing soccer at 7 and played on a traveling soccer team in Missouri. Danie said there was a big adjustment when they moved to Monroe.
"The girls were really welcoming and understanding," Danie said.
On the field, the Poppes have found a comfort zone.
"There is an advantage because we have been playing with each other for a long time," Danie said of playing soccer with her twin sister. We know what each other will do. I love playing with her."
Katie said when she and her sister sub in during games, the official often looks at her and says, 'Oh there are two of you."
There is teamwork with the twins.
"If I go with a cross and pass it down the line, she will be there," Katie Poppe said of Danie. "We have always played with each other."
Danie and Katie Poppe always eat an orange before each game.
"We feel like it brings us good luck and energy," Danie said.
O'Neill had a learning curve when it came to rotating the Poppe sisters in as midfielders and forwards.
"I do get them confused sometimes," O'Neill said. "I always feel bad about that."