The Hawk

Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Sports

Kristen (left) and Alison Reynolds are making an impact off the bench for the Hawks this season.

Amid the chaos that is the first year of college for a Division I athlete, it helps to have a good friend and teammate go through the same experiences. When it comes to good friends, there may not be anyone better than a twin sister.

For Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse player Alison Reynolds, '11, nothing has made the transition easier than having her twin sister and teammate Kristen Reynolds, '11, along for the ride as well.

"We would be with each other all the time," Alison said of the first few months of the school year. "We're best friends, so we hung out a lot."

"She was someone to lean on who knew exactly what I was going through," Kristen agreed.

The duo from nearby Cherry Hill, N.J., received more than their fair share of high school accolades and honors. Both were named First team All-Conference as seniors and Second Team All-Conference as juniors. They were also both chosen for the South Jersey Senior All-Star Team. Alison was a Second Team All-South Jersey selection, while Kristen received honorable mention.

The Reynolds twins led Cherry Hill East High School to the top tier of New Jersey lacrosse, compiling win after win. This year has not been as easy for the Reynolds sisters, as the Hawks have gone 7-5, dropping three frustrating games by one goal each. But, this doesn't seem to bother them.

"In high school, our team was ranked fourth in South Jersey so it would always be win, win, win," Alison said. "But in college, on any day, any team can play better than you. On any given day a team can beat you."

This up-and-down play can be extremely frustrating while watching it happen from the bench. Alison and Kristen have found themselves on the sideline more often than not through the first 12 games of their freshman campaign.

"Our high school coach always looked to us as leaders on our team, so it's just hard to go back to the bottom of the totem pole," Kristen admitted. "It's hard being the freshman and having to get the balls and the water, but everyone has been there so you just have to work your way back up. Everyone on our team was the best player on their high school teams."

Alison cited the transition from the high school game to the college game as one of the reasons why she and her sister have not being playing as much as they're used to.

Continued...

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