PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — For the Stickelmeyer girls, Notre Dame soccer is all about family.
“I've been playing with my cousins since I was little. It's nice to have someone (as a teammate) that you've known all your life,” said Ari Stickelmeyer. “We have an inherent bond and chemistry. We always know where each other is.”
Cousin Ali and Maddie Stickelmeyer are juniors and starters in the Irish-leading Big 12 Conference. Maddy is a midfielder and Alli is a defender for the 16-1 Irish national team.
“Ali and I have always played together on the same team, and I think we can work well together,” Maddie Stickelmeyer said. “On the field, we trust each other with the ball and we know we can get there.”
Their special bond seems to be evident in their corner kicks. Usually Maddy kicks them and Ali tends to head home their kicks to end the play. The cousins connected on several scoring plays this year.
“Allie knew exactly where Maddie was going to play the ball and found herself in that spot,” Notre Dame soccer coach Ben Ralph said. “Allie is great, he goes up and gets the ball.”
Maddy doesn't know exactly where Allie will be on the corner kick, but she does know that she has to be close to the goal and that her 6-foot cousin has a good chance of getting her head on the ball. , he said.
“We're not planning on that,” Maddie Sticklemeyer said. “But after (a goal) I always celebrate and say, “Let's do it again!''
Winning is something the Cousins hope for again and again. Their goal is to help the Irish reach state and celebrate the team's successes together.
“Not many people can say I played with my family, my cousins, my brothers, my sisters,” Ari Stickelmeyer said. “I would say we are doing well and we have cousins who will be celebrating with us.”
