By Seth Lakso, Globe Correspondent
Sisters Nicole and Melissa Gavin are freshman starting on their respective soccer teams, with Nicole at Duxbury High School and Melissa at Yale University. But both have taken up leadership roles on their new teams and are putting up numbers like seasoned veterans.
The sisters honed their soccer skills battling each other in countless backyard soccer games with their two brothers growing up in Duxbury.
Melissa made a name for herself playing for the Dragons for four seasons. She led the Patriot League in scoring (29 goals, 15 assist) and was named an All-American as a senior last season.
But with the exit of one high scoring Gavin from Duxbury, came the addition of another.
"When [Melissa] found out I made Varsity she told me that I shouldn’t be scared and that I better not play like a freshman," said Nicole, who has taken her sister’s advice to heart.
The younger Gavin is leading the 14th ranked Dragons (7-1-2) in scoring and is second in the Patriot League, with 10 goals and eight assists through eight games this season.
"[Nicole and I] have been comparing what it's been like for us as we try to fit into new systems and adapt to playing styles," said Melissa, who makes sure to talk with her sister at least once a week. "Nicole has adopted really well so far, I couldn't be more proud of her," she said.
Melissa, has adapted pretty well to her new team as well, bursting onto the scene at Yale, leading the team with four goals and three assists. Totals that place her tied for fourth in the Ivy League in scoring.
"[Melissa's] just so humble and she doesn’t even know how good she really is," said Nicole, who admits that her older sister is her soccer role model. "I've watched her play and seen all her accomplishments and they help to motivate me to try to do it too," she said.
Both Gavins play with different styles on the pitch. At 5-foot-2, Melissa relies on her experience, speed, and field vision, while at 5-foot-6, Nicole tends to be more athletic and physical with her play.
"[Nicole's] very athletic, she has great foot skills and a wicked shot, but she can also run people off the ball better than I could," said Melissa. "We're five-years apart so we never got to play together except in the yard, but we’ve gotten very competitive and we love to tease each other after a poor play."
Surprisingly, If Melissa had gotten her way growing up we might not be seeing such impressive offensive numbers from Nicole this season.
"I always tried to convince her to be a goalie," admits the older Gavin. "I really wanted someone to shoot on, but as she grew as a player it became pretty obvious that she definitely didn’t want to play in net."