By: Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
 
The Lehigh women's soccer family is so strong that it brings family members even closer together.
 
Take Mary and Bridget Casey for example, currently a senior and sophomore for the Mountain Hawks.
 
"I was a little hesitant when Bridget was first on campus as a freshman," said Mary. "I didn't really want her in my space. I didn't think it was such a good idea (after being all for it during the recruiting process). But as time went on, we became closer and closer.
 
"Now, we're actually two peas in a pod and you very rarely see us separated."
 
The Caseys are part of a large family. Along with each other, they have five additional siblings – four brothers and another sister.
 
Needless to say, competition was always high in the Casey household.
 
"We all played sports at one point," said Mary. "It was very competitive. We were always outside playing together. Soccer was the first sport we all started playing then as we got older, we got into basketball and track."
 
Mary actually committed to Lehigh for track and field, but decided to tackle soccer as well. She is currently a two-sport athlete, which is rare in this day and age.
 
"I reached out to Coach Lambinus and asked if it would be possible to walk on," said Mary. "I ended up fitting in well with the team, and it all worked out."
 
"In the recruiting process, we always liked Mary and what she could bring to our program," said Lehigh head coach Eric Lambinus. "Unfortunately, sometimes the timing works out and sometimes it doesn't. When Mary reached out about walking on, we had some transition taking place and saw a good opportunity to add a hard-working defensive player (which we needed), who was already committed to Lehigh and the way we develop our student-athletes. We have a great relationship with our track program, so it seemed like a win-win for everyone.
 
"Little did we know that adding the Casey family to our program would add such a boost to our culture," Lambinus continued. "Mary has turned into one of our most consistent workers every day and consistent performers over the last few years."
 
 
Casey's performance took a big jump after a rookie season which saw her play just two games. She followed by playing 17 then 18 games as a sophomore and junior, respectively.
 
"I wasn't very special at first, but as the years came and I fit in better with the team, my confidence grew," said Mary. "I started working a little bit harder in the offseason."
 
Around the same time of Mary's significant improvement, Bridget was being recruited by the Mountain Hawks.
 
"Bridget wasn't very heavily recruited before her junior year, so she attended camps anywhere and everywhere," said Mary. "She came here and Coach asked me what she thought if we tried to get Bridget. I loved the idea and was so excited. I also remember (former Lehigh goalkeeper) Lidia Breen being so excited about it, too. She was at most of the clinics and thought Bridget would be such a good fit."
 
It speaks volumes about the Lehigh women's soccer program that a sibling would want to join the Mountain Hawks' family.
 
"Mary only had positive things to say about the team, the campus and the academics," said Bridget. "That heavily persuaded me, hearing her good perspective, and the campus in general was really pretty. It was a bonus to be playing with her. It was a lot of fun when we played on the same high school basketball, soccer and track teams, and it just gave us a closer aspect of our relationship."
 
Early in Bridget's time at Lehigh, there were awkward moments in the sisters' relationship. Their relationship was always strong, but the new situation took some adjusting. Both were playing the same positions, so they were competing with each other for playing time.
 
Last year, Bridget (a freshman) started over Mary (a junior).
 
"I was a little upset, but I talked to Coach Cal (Calabrese) who really put things in perspective," said Mary. "This is what's best for the team. I was able to overcome what was holding me back, and able to be happy for her.
 
"I believe that helped make us really close."
 
"The Casey sisters have definitely grown closer," said Lambinus. "Sometimes, we see teammates are afraid of conflict and don't realize that conflict is actually good when it involves trust. Mary and Bridget truly trust each other, can recognize feelings exist and work through it. The fact they can be there for each other, even when they are competing for the same position, is the ultimate compliment to their character. 
 
"At the end of the day, the relationships between teammates is what college athletics is all about and having Mary and Bridget model how they build their relationship over time can only bring great things to our program."
 
The script is flipped this year. This year, Mary began starting after Bridget got hurt, and she hasn't left the starting lineup since.
 
No matter who plays, Mary and Bridget know they're in it together, as family members in the literal sense (sisters) and figurative sense (members of the Lehigh women's soccer program).
 
"Almost every day, we're talking to each other or seeing each other on campus," said Bridget. "I know if I have questions, I can always ask Mary for advice or if I just need a laugh, I can text her or see her.
 
"I thought in high school, we were close, but it doesn't compare to our relationship now," Bridget continued. "She can help me with schoolwork and we can give each other advice with soccer."
 
The Caseys are extremely successful, on and off the field. In the classroom, both own GPAs well over 3.5.
 
Growing up around so many siblings naturally brings out a competitiveness and edge in each other, which is paying off to this day with Mary and Bridget playing a Division I college sport.
 
"We would always fight and dispute over very miniscule topics," said Bridget. "If someone stole someone's clothes, it would literally be a battle royal. Sometimes, we would have a pit and fight with each other, which sounds crazy, but that's how we were. Having older siblings definitely pushed us to be more competitive at an early age."
 
Flash forward to today and Mary is a few months from graduation while Bridget still has more than two years to go, but both are biology majors with aspirations of careers in the medical field.
 
Mary is currently applying to medical school.
 
"I'm not really sure what specialty I'll eventually fall into because I have a lot of interests," she said. "My dad is an orthopedic surgeon so I've always grown up with some interest in that area."
 
"Just seeing how fun my dad's job was and how he was helping others, I believe that motivated me to want to also be in the health care field," said Bridget. "When we visited his office, it was an atmosphere I wanted to be a part of."
 
Bridget also wanted to be part of the Lehigh women's soccer family atmosphere, which reunited the sisters. The camaraderie in the program is special, and evident every day.
 
Despite struggling to start league play in each of the last two seasons, the Mountain Hawks bounced back last year to reach the Patriot League Championship Game. This season, Lehigh is 3-2-1 over its last six league games and would advance to its sixth straight Patriot League Tournament if it beats American on Friday.
 
"Our team staying together has a lot to do with our leadership," said Mary. "It's not a good thing we've had slow starts, but the leadership on the team demands a lot from us, which picks everyone up."
 
"We're definitely really united," said Bridget. "We develop our relationships, on and off the field, because once we have that trust in each other, we know we can work harder for each other. I feel like that shows on the field. We can depend on each other."
 
Mary and Bridget know they can depend on one another, whether they're at Lehigh, at home pushing each other to train during the summer, or any other setting for that matter.
 
The sisters are glad they were brought together through soccer to a home away from home… Lehigh.
 
"There are a lot of other sports teams at Lehigh in which siblings come," said Mary. "I believe it's due to the family dynamic that Lehigh creates. It's close to home, so our parents always come to our games. We honestly just extended our family here."
 
"This team becomes your family," said Bridget. "Everyone on the team is there for each other," said Bridget.
 
"It's a home away from home."

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