The love and passion Sabrina and Gianna Perri share for soccer is one that will never fade. Passed between generations, the senior sisters embark on their recent years of sharing the bond for the game they love, soccer.
Wrapping up what is their final season as Lakers, the Perri sisters reflect on the journey from playing soccer throughout their childhood, to representing the Lakers for three years of Div. III soccer at Oswego State together.
Growing up in an Italian family of dominant soccer fans, the sisters were influenced by their father to start playing the game. Sabrina being just five and Gianna being four, the sisters quickly bonded over their shared love for the game they were born into.
“We quickly fell in love with the game at a very young age. Soccer has been a big part of our lives whether it was playing on teams, practicing with our dad, watching games or watching other family members play,” the sisters said in an email.
The sisters participated in other sports as well, but simply did not have as much passion as they had for soccer.
“Although we both did enjoy running track in high school, we both ran to stay in shape for soccer,” the Perri sisters said.
Playing together their whole lives, the sisters found it rather encouraging to play with each other. In fact, they never really had much of a sibling rivalry. At the end of the day teammates are teammates, even if they are family, as well.
“Whenever one of us gets down or is not playing our best, we are always there to help each other get back up,” the sisters said. “We bring out the best in one another and make sure each other feels confident when we need it most.”
Sabrina positioned at defense and Gianna at midfield, the sisters used playing different positions to their advantage.
From practicing one vs. one with each other, to playing an actual game, the sisters found that playing different positions made it easier for them to play together. They were able to get better at the game by challenging each other, both during and outside of practice.
“We have always worked well together and know where to be for each other on the field,” the sisters said. “We have had coaches and teammates tell us how well we play together and it definitely comes from playing on the same team for 16 years.”
Not even thinking twice about transferring to different schools from Nyack College, the sisters found their place here representing the women’s soccer team at Oswego State.
Playing together their whole lives, the game just would not be the same if they were representing different schools.
“It has never gotten old playing together,” the sisters said. “We plan to continue to play on the same teams after we graduate college as well.”
Although their parents were not crazy about the idea of their daughers going to school four hours away from home, they knew that the sisters had each other to rely on and supported them. Finding little pieces of home within each other, the Perri sisters knew that Oswego State was the right fit for them.
“We did not want to go so far away from home, but we knew that if we had each other it would make coming to Oswego much easier,” the sisters said.
The three years they have shared at Oswego State has been one to remember. Strengthening their relationship while playing the game they share an equal passion for is something that the sisters will cherish forever.
“We definitely think going to the same school and playing on the same team has brought us closer,” the sisters said. “We have always been close, but sharing a college experience is something that we would not trade for the world.”
As their senior season at Oswego State comes to an end, the sisters took time to reflect on their recent years of playing Div. III soccer. Playing for the same team for 16 years, to a year at Nyack College, to Oswego State, the sisters have embarked on their journey and are happy they had the opportunity to spend it together.
“This senior year has been one of the hardest and toughest season for us, we would have loved to end our last year with more of a success,” the sisters said. “We have faced a lot of struggles this season, but always try to overcome them together.”
Their journey representing the women’s soccer team at Oswego State may be coming to an end, but the sisters plan on continuing the game they have loved from a young age.
“We have had tons of wins, losses, tears, laughs and lessons learned playing soccer for all these years,” the sisters said. “We know that we are going to continue to play for as long as we can and our love for the game will never fade.”
