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Even from a young age, it was clear that twin sisters Maria and Sofia Snyder played lacrosse with an intensity that most didn’t.

Their parents, Joe and Jeanine Snyder, recalled one of the first times his identical daughters played lacrosse. They were in fourth grade and participating in a ground ball drill. Lose the ball, and you were out.

After the entire team lost their balls, Maria and Sofia were the last two standing.

“They’ve always been pretty talented, athletic and aggressive,” Joe said. “It was pretty laughable because everybody knew what they were in for when the two of them were going to butt heads on the field.”

That aggressiveness and athleticism in their early childhood have allowed Maria and Sofia to develop into stars at West Genesee High School. In the Snyders’ three years with the program, the Wildcats have won two Section 3 Championships and are the reigning regional champions, earning a berth in last year’s state final.

It’s the program’s best stretch since winning seven state titles in the early 2000s, having won their last state championship in 2014. The twins’ success has allowed them to elevate to the next level, as the duo is committed to Old Dominion following their high school graduation in 2025.

“For a while, we really weren’t winning at all,” Maria said. “And then it got to our sophomore year, and this team, we just clicked.”

The recent success hasn’t come as easy, though, as the Snyders and West Genesee have had to pull out multiple close contests to get there. According to their assistant coach, Kelly Fucillo, the Snyders set the tone for the Wildcats.

“One thing that sets them apart is their mental toughness and grit on the field,” Fucillo said. “Maria and Sofia are scrappy on ground balls and win a lot of the 50/50 matchups.”

When the twins won their first Section 3 Championship with West Genesee two years ago, the Wildcats had to find another level, winning 13-12 after being down 7-4 at halftime. The team relied on Sofia in the win, as she earned two draw controls and secured a ground ball.

Last year’s state semifinal was no different, with West Genesee holding off a late comeback attempt for a gutsy 10-9 win. Maria, who scored a goal and forced a turnover, provided the game-winning assist in the final minute.

“I think we have a lot of grit,” Maria said. “Once we put our mind to something, we want to pursue that. If we lose the ball, we’re definitely hustling, trying to work hard and get the ball back.”

The two committed early to Old Dominion in late September last year, feeling “connected” to the campus when they visited. After speaking with the coaches and watching a team practice, the Snyders knew that the team culture was one they wanted to be a part of.

“We visited a lot of other schools, but Old Dominion told us that they see us doing big things in the future,” Sofia said. “They really believe in us.”

Despite the early commitment, it wasn’t always clear that the twins would play college lacrosse.

The Snyders also play soccer for West Genesee during the fall, where they won the Section 3 Championship in 2023. Maria again proved her ability to thrive in the biggest moments, as she provided the game-winning assist in the 2-1 championship game victory.

Despite their admiration for soccer, the twins made a business decision to focus strictly on lacrosse at the next level.

“In soccer, you don’t see a lot of players going D-I for that,” Maria said. “Seeing more people going D-I for lacrosse, I feel like that was really encouraging.”

Before the twins head off to Norfolk, Virginia, to play for the Monarchs, the focus remains on their senior year. For Sofia, West Genesee’s season opener will be the first time she’s played lacrosse since 2022, as she suffered a season-ending injury on the first day of lacrosse practice last year. Now, having made a full recovery, Sofia is ready to play lacrosse again.

“We want to try and get this state championship,” Sofia said. “For our senior year, all of our seniors have been on varsity for a really long time and we want to try and finish it on a high note.”

If the Wildcats are going to make it back to the state final this year, the Snyders will have to continue producing. Their mother expects nothing less.

“That’s just who they are,” Jeanine said. “They’re aggressive and they want to win, their will to win is off the charts. It’s not something you can teach. Either you have it or you don’t.”

Published on September 4, 2024 at 11:58 pm

Contact Henry at: hdaley@syr.edu