Carlie Marquette: Sibling Rivalry Pushes You to Succeed

Posted on by The Quill

By Dustin Waleff, Sports Editor

Photo Courtesy of Carlie Marquette

Having a sibling who also is a collegiate athlete can be tough, but for rising junior goaltender Carlie Marquette, seeing the success of her sister pushes her to improve every day.
 
Marquette, from Spring Grove, Pa. was a four-year starter for the Spring Grove Area High School Rockets women’s soccer team, while getting the chance to play with her older sister Abbie, during her first two seasons.
 
Abbie, a defender, who recently finished her senior season at Shenandoah University in Virginia, recalls how competitive the siblings were growing up.
 
“We were competitive in everything that we did. We made everything a competition and we both hate losing so it made it fun. We always enjoyed going out and training together since I needed to practice shooting on goal, and she needed to practice saving shots it worked out”.
 
Carlie echoes the competitive nature between the sisters, “Abbie and I are insanely competitive, but in the end, it only makes us better”.
 
However, having a sibling who has gone through the same situation gives a voice you can turn to when starting out as a collegiate athlete.
 
“It has been helpful to have a sibling in the same sport at the collegiate level. We always have each other to push in practices and trainings. It is also good to always have the support,” Marquette said.
 
While at Susquehanna University, Marquette has yet to become an everyday player, but she has made the most of her opportunities, appearing in two games so far during her first two seasons with the River Hawks.
 
Marquette made her collegiate debut during the final regular season game of her first year against Drew University. She then made an appearance against Elizabethtown College this past spring during the COVID-19 abbreviated season.
 
Being the backup goalie to an established starter can be mentally difficult, but Marquette is always ready for when her number is called.
 
Marquette said, “It is frustrating to be backup for an established goalkeeper, but I just keep trying to get better so I’m ready for my moment. The more I work the better I will be when my time comes”.
 
While not being able to get much game time, her goalie compatriots give rave reviews on Marquette’s character and work ethic.
 
Starting goalie Madi Welliver said, “Well Carlie is one of the most hardworking and strongest (both physically and mentally) people I know. She is someone who is always there to push you and cheer you on. She has such a great attitude and loves to have fun. At practices and keeper training she is someone who I can always joke around and laugh with no matter what. She is the youngest of the keepers, but I look up to her in so many ways and am so proud of how far she has come in such a short time at SU.”
 
With her sophomore season behind her, Marquette is ready to take the next step on the field and do her part to help the River Hawk women’s soccer team continue their success.