2008 Woodie Awards
For women's lax, it's all about the sister act
Amanda Piccirilli
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Sports
By Amanda Piccirilli
Staff Writer
While many of us keep in touch with our siblings via email and text messaging throughout the school year, eight girls on the Loyola women's lacrosse team have the ability to yell a question across Diane Geppi-Aikens Field and get an immediate answer from their sister on the sideline.
On this season's 29-player roster, there are four sets of sisters: the Gibsons, Taylors, O'Keefes and Filippellis.
Emily and Johanna Gibson never expected to play collegiate lacrosse with each other, even though they had for most of their lives. Growing up in Jarrettsville, Md., the girls first started their playing careers together on a recreational team. They both continued to play together at North Harford High School, where they helped their team win a Harford County title in 2006.
Emily, a sophomore, knew Loyola was the right school for her as soon as she walked on the campus.
"Being in a city is great coming from a country background," Gibson said. "The location was close to home and the campus has a great feeling to it."
With Emily already having a year of play under her belt, it was Johanna who had to decide next on which school to attend. With Emily playing at Loyola and her other older sister, Christina, playing lacrosse at Syracuse, either school was an option.
"Syracuse was nice, but I liked Loyola much more," freshman Johanna said. "The team is great, the campus is beautiful and the size is perfect for me."
When Johanna arrived on the Evergreen campus, Emily, with one year under her belt, did feel some pressure to take her sister under her wing.
"No one said I needed to help her, and the coaches didn't put pressure on me, but I still felt it," Emily said.
Now that the Gibsons are both settled in at Loyola, they are both enjoying being on the same team once again.
"It's great that the team does not define us as the Gibson sisters," Johanna said. "I'm Johanna and [Emily] is 'Gibs'. The team sees us as two different people and not a pair."
Staff Writer
While many of us keep in touch with our siblings via email and text messaging throughout the school year, eight girls on the Loyola women's lacrosse team have the ability to yell a question across Diane Geppi-Aikens Field and get an immediate answer from their sister on the sideline.
On this season's 29-player roster, there are four sets of sisters: the Gibsons, Taylors, O'Keefes and Filippellis.
Emily and Johanna Gibson never expected to play collegiate lacrosse with each other, even though they had for most of their lives. Growing up in Jarrettsville, Md., the girls first started their playing careers together on a recreational team. They both continued to play together at North Harford High School, where they helped their team win a Harford County title in 2006.
Emily, a sophomore, knew Loyola was the right school for her as soon as she walked on the campus.
"Being in a city is great coming from a country background," Gibson said. "The location was close to home and the campus has a great feeling to it."
With Emily already having a year of play under her belt, it was Johanna who had to decide next on which school to attend. With Emily playing at Loyola and her other older sister, Christina, playing lacrosse at Syracuse, either school was an option.
"Syracuse was nice, but I liked Loyola much more," freshman Johanna said. "The team is great, the campus is beautiful and the size is perfect for me."
When Johanna arrived on the Evergreen campus, Emily, with one year under her belt, did feel some pressure to take her sister under her wing.
"No one said I needed to help her, and the coaches didn't put pressure on me, but I still felt it," Emily said.
Now that the Gibsons are both settled in at Loyola, they are both enjoying being on the same team once again.
"It's great that the team does not define us as the Gibson sisters," Johanna said. "I'm Johanna and [Emily] is 'Gibs'. The team sees us as two different people and not a pair."
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