Good things come in pairs, or so says the women's soccer team with their pair of freshmen twin sisters, Lindsey and Kristen Bailey, who feel they have an advantage over others on the field.
"There's a certain comfort level of playing with someone that you're really close with," Kristen said. "We read each other really well."
The Bailey sisters, who are fraternal twins, have both seen playing time and are contributing to the program; Lindsey, a midfielder, scored the only goal in the Bulls' 1-0 victory over Central Michigan on Oct. 21. Sister Kristen hangs back to defend against the enemy.
As the twins play on the same side of the field, the familiarity makes passing between the two sisters a lot easier.
"We both know where we're going to be. We don't even have to think about it because we've both played with each other for so long," Lindsey said. "I know once she gets the ball in a certain place, I know where I'm supposed to be because I know where she is looking."
Such a connection is inevitable, as the Bailey twins have been playing together for over a decade. Kristen first started playing soccer at age six, and her sister Lindsey soon joined her.
"The first year, I played on a mini-field, five-on-five. Halfway through the season, she (Lindsey) started to play when we didn't have enough players and we just kept going," Kristen said.
The Baileys became interested in soccer at such a young age because of their grandfather, who played professionally in Scotland.
"Our grandpa had a huge influence because he had played soccer for his entire life, and he always would give us pointers and help us out," Lindsey said.
Aside from soccer, the Bailey sisters both played hockey in high school, while Lindsey played field hockey as well.
"We have always played on the same team together in everything except for field hockey," Lindsey said. "That's only because she (Kristen) is left-handed and we didn't have left-handed sticks."
When it came time to choose hockey or soccer for college, the sisters went with their roots and decided to continue with soccer.
"Hockey was not really new to our family, but nobody had really played it before. Soccer was more our background and what we knew growing up," Lindsey said.
Both sisters claimed that they looked at different schools initially, but in the end they knew what they wanted most was to stay together. As far as choosing Buffalo, the location was a major factor. Being from Burlington, Ontario, the sisters wanted an easy trip from home.
"We're from just across the border, so it's not very far for our family or anything," Kristen said.
Lindsey went on to mention that there were a few other factors that contributed to their decision.
"We met the girls on our recruiting trip and they seemed really nice," Lindsey said. "Also, we would always come down to Buffalo to go shopping, so we knew the area really well so there was that comfort."
However, the move to the US led to media attention being devoted to different sports. It had a negative impact on another hobby of theirs.
"We miss hockey," Lindsey and Kristen said together.
"We have one game a week here, Hockey Night in Canada. We both stay up and watch it together," Lindsey continued.
Despite attending a school in Sabres country, the sisters are fans of the team closest to their hometown: the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Playing on the same soccer team at UB hasn't helped the sisters in one aspect; they feel that since they are twins, they are always being grouped together.
"It's always 'The Baileys.' It's not like it's two separate people. It's not Lindsey and Kristen," Lindsey said. "You don't have your own identity when people talk about you."
On the positive side, the sisters did not face the usual sibling rivalry and violence that occurs in most families.
"We both have different personalities, and I think that makes it hard to have sibling rivalry. People know that I'm the outgoing one and she's the shy one," Lindsey said. "For who wants to throw the party, they are going to ask me first before they ask Kristen. If they need advice on homework, they are going to ask her first before they ask me."
All in all, the sisters feel that there are more advantages to having a twin and they are enjoying the benefits.
"You get double the clothes options and double everything," Lindsey said. "You always have somebody there. You always have friends to hang out with. Other kids may be sitting at home if their friends are somewhere else. I always have her."
