For as different as they are in personality and demeanor, Ava and Ana Galati still expect the mix-ups. They’re used to getting quizzical looks when someone sees one of them shortly after running into the other.
At this point, Ana said, when people greet her and begin speaking as if they’re picking up from a previous conversation of which she has no clue, she’ll do her best to play along just so Ava doesn’t seem rude. And vice versa.
It’s one of games the sisters play as identical twins. Well, aside from their actual games as three-sport athletes at Clarkstown South High School.
They both star for the girls lacrosse team, coached by their dad, and the talented midfielders have proven to be double trouble for opponents. But last week in a playoff victory over Lakeland/Panas, the Galati girls took “twinning” to another level.
Five goals, including one scored on an 8-meter free position shot, along with three draw controls. That was the stat line for each of them. Identical. Even the twins had to double take at that.
“That was the first time it’s ever happened to us,” Ava said of the two matching each other in that 10-8 win in the opening round of the Section 1 Class A tournament. “We had no idea until afterwards, and it was just a weird coincidence, but it was definitely cool.”
Despite the twins doing all the scoring, they described it as a collective effort, lauding teammates for drawing coverage and helping to create openings on offense, and playing well defensively.
That win was a significant step forward for the Vikings, who were blown out by Lakeland/Panas in the first round last season. South advanced to face second-seeded Wappingers in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The team is building gradually and Ana and Ava — juniors both committed to UMass Lowell — are part of a promising core that includes Ella Wager, Alexandra Benvenuto, Gianna Salvo and goalie Kyla Zamprelli.
Matthew Galati teaches at North Rockland High School and used to coach girls lacrosse there, and his wife Nicole once coached it at Clarkstown South. The birth of their first daughter, Olivia, led to them giving up coaching, but her interest in lacrosse would later influence the twins and spurred her dad into coaching at the youth level.
That confluence of factors, and Ava and Ana being promoted to varsity in the eighth grade, eventually brought them all together on the Vikings team. Olivia now is a sophomore at Stevenson University, but the twins are inseparable — having the same classes and circle of friends and both being field hockey midfielders and throwers on the track and field team.
“They’re really competitive with each other and fight like cats and dogs,” Matthew Galati said of the duo, who were monochorionic twins. “But they’re as close as two people can be.”
We chatted with the twins about that dynamic, their similarities and differences, and the team’s progress.
[Ava] How significant was that win over Lakeland/Panas? “In the past, we’ve lost in the first round, so that was definitely meaningful and we were excited. We have a young team with really good chemistry, that’s getter better, and we’re coming together.”
[Ana] Has there ever been a sibling rivalry? “We butt heads sometimes because there’s always an issue of who’s on who’s schedule. I’m high-strung and Ava is more controlling. I also like to be extra early, so I have to force her to get on my time. We shared clothes when we were little and shared a room until freshman year, so that’s something we had to navigate.”
[Dad] They’ll have another four years together after high school: “They swore they wouldn’t go to college together because they wanted to be individuals, but they both ended up deciding on UMass-Lowell. They’re inseparable.”
[Ava] What will that be like? “We really do love having each other, and it’s gonna be really cool to continue playing together. I hope our dynamic translates well at the next level.”
[Ava] What’s the biggest difference between you two? “On the field, Ana is very aggressive and she’s got a strong outside game. I play the inside more. Personality-wise, I’m more laidback. She’s more intense and I think that shows up in her game.”
[Dad] On and off the field, what are the biggest differences and similarities from your perspective? “They both have a good eye for the ball and good lacrosse IQ. Ana plays with more swagger and Ava is a little more reserved… They’re both big personalities and they’re boisterous. You’ll always know when they’re around.”
What’s the music of choice? [Ava] “I like country music. Right now, I’m into Ella Langley.” [Ana] “I’m into pop and country, but I’ll admit that I don’t have great taste in music. I jam to what other people are listening to. But I do like Kelly Clarkson.”
Favorite color? [Ava] “Royal blue.” [Ana] “Green.”
What TV show can you binge? [Ava] “I love ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’” [Ana] “I like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ more than her, but since she took my answer, I’ll go with ‘Below Deck.’”
If you could have any superpower… [Ana] “I’d want to be able to fly.” [Ava] “Teleportation. I’d travel all over the world without having to pay for flights. My first visits would probably be Italy, Amsterdam and Paris.”
If you could do anything you wanted for 24 hours, what would the day be like? [Ava] “I’d be with my friends and we’d be eating a lot of great food. Ice cream, Chipotle and Chick-fil-A would be in the mix.” [Ana] “My day would be similar to Ava’s. I’d spend most of it with friends, play some lacrosse, and I’d probably do some cooking and baking. I like making cookies and muffins, and I was on a sourdough kick in the fall. I like Chipotle, too, but I like Italian food more. There’d be some Fettuccine Alfredo and penne alla vodka – my mom’s recipe!”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Clarkstown South’s Galati twins talk girls lacrosse team growth
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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