Twins, Wissahickon Grads, Playing Lacrosse for Bloomsburg Huskies

Without the braid in one's long brown hair, or the different jersey numbers, trying to tell Aubrey and Ashley Bossert apart can be a time-waster.

Their respective bios on the Bloomsburg University girls' lacrosse page don't help regarding the former Wissahickon stars. Both are listed at 5-foot-6, with pasta as the favorite pre-game meal and Australia as the country most wanted to visit.

Beginning next fall, the twins will have the same major, Exercise Science, so good luck to their future professors.

"It's really cool because we're interested in the same things, in academics and sports," Ashley Bossert said. "We always hang out together and do the things we love to do. It's awesome to get to play with her." 

The choice to stay together after playing lacrosse together since sixth grade was simple, since the sisters were considering similar schools and areas of study. When Ashley decided on Bloomsburg, Aubrey's call became easier.

"I thought it would be an awesome opportunity," said Aubrey, who is 18 minutes older. "We love playing together and being together. We're best friends, so it worked out really well."

Differences emerge in the twins on the field. Though they both played midfield at Wissahickon, Ashley worked as an attacker at Bloomsburg, while Aubrey stayed as an midfielder, joining an experienced group that was supposed to be headed by first-team All-PSAC East selection Allie Kakareka.

When Kakareka went down with a season-ending injury, Aubrey helped fill some of the void. Overall, she contributed 12 goals and an assist to a Huskies (10-6, 7-4 PSAC) team that qualified for the Championship Tournament, losing in the first round to Mercyhurst College.

Playing in all 17 games, Aubrey scored her first collegiate goal in an 11-10 win over Bentley on March 8, and recorded a season-high three in her next game, a 17-6 victory over St. Andrews Presby.

Sister Ashley brought depth to the middle infield. She played in 16 games, with five ground balls and two draw controls. One goal that will have to wait for next season is the Bossert-to-Bossert goal.

"We were trying to have one of us score and have the other get the assist, but it didn't happen," Aubrey said. "We know each other so well and I always feel comfortable passing to her. It will happen."

It happened often at Wissahickon, where the Bosserts, as well as first-team All-SOL American members Laura Frankenfield, Alex Smith and Jessica Scannapieco, helped the Trojans to the first home playoff lacrosse game in school history.

They beat Garnet Valley, 12-10, last season, before falling in the second round.

"Our senior year was a big year for the lacrosse program," Aubrey said. "We were a tight group and we had all been together for a while."

Because of their close bond, these two sisters chose to stay together longer, and should become leaders on a developing Bloomsburg team. With so much in common, they rarely fight with each other.

"When we get into arguments, we usually forget about it 30 seconds later," Ashley said, suggesting that getting mad at her sister is like getting mad at herself. "It was probably about something silly. We do all the same things and have all the same interests."

One thing the girls must keep separate is their respective hair styles. When Aubrey innocently braided Ashley's hair before a windy game, coach Leah Carr and teammates struggled even worse to tell them apart -- even with the different numbered jerseys -- and demanded that only Aubrey wear a braid.

"I keep it straight now," Ashley said.

Carr is onto something. It may be the only chance anyone has of keeping them straight.