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Glance at the collegiate field hockey rosters at Williams, Bowdoin and Hamilton and you will see a common factor.
If you noticed all are NESCAC institutions that is accurate and observant. However, if you look deeper and tap into your "Where's Waldo" skills, you will uncover there is someone with the last name Higgins on each team.
You might say that is a coincidence because it is a common last name, but Kiki (Williams), Sammy (Hamilton) and Caroline (Bowdoin) come from the same family and share an incredible bond over field hockey.
"Our family dynamic is fun," said Kiki. "We are competitive with each other. My sisters and I train together in the summers. I look up to both as role models, as they possess a work ethic that is difficult to match. They are two of the most resilient and determined people."
Kiki and Sammy are twins and in their junior year, while Caroline is a senior. Together, the Higgins' sisters have won 107 overall and 52 NESCAC games, totaling a combined 52 goals, 59 assists and 17 game-winners. They have qualified for three NCAA Division III tournaments.
"They are fierce competitors, skilled, determined and fearless when pursuing the ball," said Williams College 24th-year head coach Alix Barrale. "Kiki plays forward, while Caroline and Sammy play in the midfield. They have the mentality that they will do whatever it takes to help the team win."
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The statistics are beyond impressive, but it is the tight-knit family relationship that the Higgins' sisters hold close to their heart. The wins are enjoyable but transient. The true joy comes from compiling memories that will last a lifetime.
"We love field hockey because it brings joy and has taught us to cherish the moments together, whether playing with or against each other," said Sammy. "Field hockey has been a gift. It is fun competing against Kiki and Caroline, but I miss being on the same team and sharing the same experiences."
The three played field hockey together at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and on the Wizards Field Hockey club in Bedford, Massachusetts.
"During my senior year and Kiki and Sammy's sophomore season in 2019, we played with our cousin, junior Meghan Dunne," said Caroline. "I was lucky to be elected captain and it was a true honor to be able to lead my high school team. We do not remember all the wins and losses, but what we do remember is how much fun we had together, from bus rides to games, team dinners on Fridays, planning team activities together and playing with each other every single day."
There was discussion about the sisters going to the same college, but they decided to go separate ways, knowing the bond will never be broken. Caroline made the journey up the coast in 2020 to Brunswick, Maine. Two years later, Kiki established her home in the Berkshires and Sammy went a little further west to Clinton, New York. The sisters transitioned from teammates to opponents, which has been a fun and strange adventure.
"We are competitive and look forward to winning," said Kiki. "When we defend each other, we see each other as just another opponent. When the game ends, we fill each other in about our lives. I will always cheer them on and root for their success. Caroline committing to Bowdoin showed me that if I worked diligently, I could play at the collegiate level. We pushed each other to become collegiate student-athletes by constantly competing against each other and learning from each other."
Kiki made an impact from the moment she stepped on campus, earning NESCAC Rookie of the Year accolades in 2022, as the program reached the NCAA Final Four for the first time. Last fall, she earned NESCAC All-Conference First Team honors, powering the squad to the conference championship game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This season, Kiki leads the conference in assists (14) and has won two Player of the Week accolades, as the Ephs raced out to their best overall (11-0) and NESCAC start (9-0) during Barrale's tenure. Kiki has career totals of 27 goals, 26 assists and eight game-winning goals, as the unit has gone 41-16 overall and 21-9 in the NESCAC.
"Off the field, Kiki is an outgoing, kind and thoughtful young woman and her teammates adore her," said Barrale. "On the field, she is a menace. She can take over games in the offensive end. She has an intuitive understanding of the game and anticipates plays before they happen. This field hockey IQ allows her to make smart and quick decisions, setting her apart from her opponents. Every season, Kiki runs faster, shoots harder and adds new skills to her already polished arsenal. She shines under pressure, coming up big when the game is on the line."
Caroline went to the NESCAC Championship and NCAA quarterfinals in 2021. She was named to the NESCAC All-Conference Second Team, finishing with nine goals, 11 assists and four game-winners in 2023. Caroline ended her phenomenal career with 22 goals, 27 assists and seven game-winners, guiding the Polar Bears to a 43-25 record. Sammy has started all 31 games over the last two years. She has compiled three goals, six assists and two game-winners during her career.
"When I learned that Kiki's sisters play at NESCAC schools, we created the Higgins Cup," said Barrale. "It is kind of like our Little Three, but with Bowdoin and Hamilton. We won it in 2022, but lost to Bowdoin in 2023 and reclaimed it this fall. Bowdoin and Hamilton have no idea we do this. We care about Kiki's sisters and how their teams perform, except when we face them. I am sad to see Caroline graduate, but not really because she was a dominant student-athlete. We have no choice but to face Sammy one more year."
Mike and Carla, parents of the Higgins sisters, have enjoyed the ride. Mike was the head coach for Trinity men's lacrosse in Hartford, Connecticut, from 2011-17. He coached his daughters growing up in ice hockey and lacrosse.
"We have logged many miles on our cars this past three seasons," said Mike. "We do our best to have representation at all their games. We have loved every minute of it. We love how they compete against each other on game day but support each other every other day."
A decade from now, the Higgins' dinner table will be filled with many cherished memories.
"We still have our Spotify playlist from the early years of field hockey tournaments with the girls, bringing back fantastic memories," said Mike. "Sports are great because they allow you to share experiences you will cherish with your kids forever, regardless of the outcome."
