Soccer runs deep in the Lord family

For Travis and Emily Lord, it's all in the family.

"They are," said longtime Ridgewood boys coach Ed McComiskey, "the soccer family here. It's just who they've always been."

Both forwards, Travis, is a 16-year-old junior who leads the boys team with 13 goals and five assists, and Emily, a 14-year-old freshman who has turned into a legitimate scoring threat with nine goals and four assists. They come from a lineage of soccer players, including their older brother and sister, Danny and Amy, both of whom were standout players for the Rams.

"We pass down what we learned, and I learned what I know from my older brother," said Travis, who also plays for Everton Florida Soccer Club. "We would just play in the yard and teach each other new stuff. It's kind of like a generation thing that we just pass down - almost like a family secret."

Certainly, it's easy to picture the four siblings out in the front yard Christmas morning, kicking around a ball, sharing soccer skills and moves. After all, it's what Danny did for Amy and Travis, and now Travis for Emily.

"He taught me everything I know about soccer," said Emily, who also plays for Florida Coast FC Strikers. "When I was little, he used to teach me how to control the ball and stuff. It's like having another coach.

"He's always looked out for me," Emily added. "He's always said that it might be hard, but to keep my grades up, so I can play. He always gave me advice about high school."

Emily has become a complement to leading-scorer Kayla Labbe and her 22 goals, but Emily scored eight goals quickly in the first five games, though only has one since. However, girls coach Tom Wellington knew from word of mouth the player joining the roster.

"Oh, I've heard of her sister - and her whole family," second-year coach Wellington said. "It's hard not to, but it's great to have her for the future of this team because she makes good decisions for her age. So far, she's lived up to the hype."

McComiskey coached Danny, but knew Amy just as well through reputation and being a teacher at Ridgewood. However, when ever someone talks of the Lord family, McComiskey points to the matriarch.

"Actually, I taught them everything they know," their mom, Robin, said with a laugh. "I coached them in rec for years, as well as their brother and sister, but it was something they all taught each other. They just all supported each other and succeed in soccer in their own ways."

"I think they get their enthusiasm from their mom," McComiskey added. "She's always driving them all over to practices, and (sometimes) she makes both games, driving over to see Emily or Travis when either one of them are away.

"It's that enthusiasm that's in her kids, and why their family is the way they are."

It's refreshing to see two athletes excel, especially siblings with similar playing styles. Yet it's even more to see this success comes straight from the roots of their family tree.

"We stick together - we're family," Travis said. "She wasn't into (soccer) at first, and then we all got her into soccer because we were all playing, but it was fun because we all got to teach her and it's what we all enjoy.

"And we're the soccer family, so everyone does it. We've always been the soccer family."