Women's Soccer | September 22, 2017

PHILADELPHIA – The women's soccer match on Sunday between La Salle and Saint Joseph's is not just another Atlantic 10 or crosstown rivalry game -- it will also mark the first time that La Salle's Madison Bower and Maci Bower will face their younger sister Morgan at any level.
 
Morgan Bower is a freshman forward on the women's soccer team at Saint Joseph's. The three sisters were teammates for one year at Millville Area High School in Millville, Pa., but Madi and Maci will lineup against Morgan for the first time on Sunday at Sweeney Field.
 
Atlantic 10 soccer matches are already intense, but a sibling rivalry thrown into the mix could take it to the next level. The gravity of the game wasn't lost on Madi, the oldest daughter of parents Tracey and Jeff Bower.
 
"It's going to be so different, I've never in my life played against a sister like that," said Madi. "That's one of our biggest games in the A-10, especially with the season Saint Joe's had last year. So it's big that we're playing our sister, but it would be even bigger to beat Saint Joe's."
 
The stage for Sunday's matchup began falling into place when Madison chose to enroll in La Salle as a freshman in 2014. As Maci was narrowing down her list of schools that fall, knowing her older sister was at La Salle was a big factor.
 
"With Madi here, I'm a big family person, so being close to her was a big thing," said Maci. "All the girls were great, and knowing my parents could make both of our games just meant a lot to me."
 
Madi and Maci played together for three years on the varsity team at Millville, and have now been at La Salle for three years together. Their relationship has continued to flourish during that time, both on and off the field.
 
"We've grown more as people, because in high school we used to argue 24/7," Madi says as she laughs. "Now when we step on the field we play as one, we have each other's back. We still get in arguments, but I feel like that just pushes us to be better."
 
All three sisters have had strong starts to the 2017 season. Madi leads the Explorers with nine points thanks to two goals and five assists. Maci is tied for second with eight points on three goals and two assists, both of which came on Thursday's win over Duquesne. Morgan ranks second on St. Joe's with three goals and third with eight points.
 
"It's been a journey. In high school we would get into big arguments while playing, but now you can tell our play is more sophisticated," adds Maci. "We know what each other is going to do, it's really nice to have someone up top who knows your movements and how you want to play."
 
With Morgan now playing just 20 minutes away across the Schuylkill River at Saint Joseph's, Madi and Maci have been able to see her play a few times this season when their schedule allows.
 
"She's been doing really well, it's nice to be able to watch her. She's our sister so you have to encourage her to keep doing what she's doing but then on the other side, she's an enemy now," laughs Maci. "We always want the best for her, but it's going to be exciting on Sunday, that's for sure."
 
Mr. and Mrs. Bower plan to make the two-and-a-half hour drive Sunday from Millville to Saint Joseph's for the 1 PM kick.
 
"I think they're absolutely going to love it. My dad always says he's picking the team that's winning," Madi says as she cracks a smile. "Our family is so competitive, it will be interesting. I feel like the loser is just going to walk away after the game and not even talk to anyone."
 
For some families, it turns out that sibling rivalry isn't just limited to fighting over clothes or who gets to shower first.