By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Twins start their careers for the Wildcats
Twins Samantha and Liz Bartlett don't do much apart.
So when universities began recruiting Liz and Samantha for their soccer talent, they were determined to stay together, since they had played on the same soccer teams since they were five years old.
"We were very straight-forward with coaches," Samantha said.
"We told them both of us or none of us, because we weren't going to go anywhere without each other," Liz said.
The twins first caught the attention of Arizona head coach Cathy Klein in November of last year, when Klein was still at Iowa State.
After Klein took the head coaching job at UA, she kept both Bartletts in mind, hoping that they'd still be available.
The problem for UA was that both Bartletts had already used their five allotted "official visits" at UCLA, UC Irvine, Texas Tech, Michigan State and were very close to signing at Villanova when Klein called to try and sell the Arizona program to the talented duo.
The phone call worked because in January, Samantha and Liz made a trip to Arizona and fell in love with the team, the campus and the surroundings in general.
"We wanted to come out here because after Cathy recruited us to Iowa (State), we really liked her mentality of coaching," Liz said.
Samantha agreed.
"(Arizona) just felt right," she said. "The minute you walk on campus, you have this feeling - a home-like feeling."
The freshmen, who hail from Dove Canyon, Calif. are two of the 12 newest members of the Wildcats' women's soccer team.
"We were fortunate and blessed to gain their attention and visit with them," Klein said.
Despite the struggles of the program, the twins never felt discouraged by the fact that last year's team had a 7-10-2 record.
"Just because a team didn't do good the previous year, (it) doesn't mean that they can't come back and have a great season," Liz said.
The transition to UA has gone well for the two defenders, as Samantha and Liz have been made to feel at home during the first weeks of practice.
"All the veterans made all the freshmen girls feel so welcome," Liz said. "They encouraged us and explained things. That was really a big help with all of us and with the comfort level."
The adjustment to collegiate soccer has been apparent to the coaching staff as well.
Though Samantha has not been able to practice due to a neck injury sustained in the off-season, Liz has apparently adjusted well to the team.
"Liz has had an exceptional training camp," Klein said, "and if things continue, she'll start in the back."
Samantha hopes to be on the field soon as she has an MRI on her neck this weekend and hopes to get clearance to practice by Monday.
When Samantha does return to practice, the twins will be able to demonstrate their special twin connection that was gained through 14 years of blood, sweat and tears on the soccer field.
"I know exactly what she's going to do and when she's going to do it," Liz said.
Even with the bond the sisters share, they try not to separate themselves from the rest of the team.
"We're close to all of our teammates," Samantha said. "We don't seclude ourselves from anyone else."
Overall, though, both Bartletts are just happy to be Wildcats.
"It can't get any better than this, playing in a Pac-10, Division I school," Samantha said
