The Washington and Lee women’s and men’s soccer squads are unlike typical Division III teams. Not only have both teams clinched an NCAA tournament berth for at least the third season in a row, but each of their rosters features sets of siblings.

The women’s team rosters three sisters: Sarah Zimmerman, ’26, and twin sisters Elizabeth Zimmerman and Megan Zimmerman, ’28. The men’s team has brothers Nati Seife, ’27, and Sami Seife, ’29; Buster Couhig, ’26, and Mac Couhig, ’29; and Spencer Furman, ’27, and Miles Furman, ’28.

Sami Seife said playing collegiate soccer with his brother has been a unique experience, especially with two other pairs of brothers on the team.

“When people are coming on our team from all over the country, and being able to recruit players that are coming from that far and still coming from the same family … being able to get three sets of brothers who all play well is a cool thing,” he said. “I don’t think many other teams would be able to do that.”

Sarah Zimmerman said she didn’t realize until her siblings got older that she would get an opportunity to play sports at a higher level with them.

“It makes me enjoy being a part of the team even more than I was before,” she said.

Miles Furman said being on a team with his brother has its advantages.

“It’s pretty helpful that you can have someone tell the rest of the team to adjust for weaknesses that you know,” he said.

Spencer Furman said he had to remind his teammates of specific instructions for passing the ball to his brother.

“People forget or don’t know that he is left-footed and that a right foot is a weakness,” he said. “I’ve had to instruct people to go to the left side.”

Not only is it easier to spot each other’s weaknesses, but sharing criticism with a sibling is much easier than with someone else, Megan Zimmerman said.

“We can yell at each other and it’s not like ‘Why is she yelling at me?’” she said.

Nati Seife said he appreciates his brother’s honesty.

“If I have something I need to ask somebody, and I know they’ll tell me what they think, I’ll ask Sami,” he said.

Miles Furman also said other teams get intimidated when they see multiple skilled family members on the roster.

“When other teams are scouting or looking at the opponent, if they see two siblings that are both playing, they gain a lot of respect for you,” he said.

The advantages go beyond the field as well. Mac Couhig said he sees his older brother, Buster, as a mentor for life in college.

“I can talk to him about anything and get good advice,” said Mac. “He’s been through all of it. Class, school or anything, he can just tell me.”

Sarah Zimmerman said she loves being able to share the journey with her sisters.

“It’s really cool to have an experience where your sisters have the same friends as you and to share those memories, experiences and teammates,” Sarah Zimmerman said.

But Buster Couhig said playing with a sibling can get competitive, especially in practice.

“When he’s on the other team, I don’t want him to win,” Buster said. “That’s how it’s always been my entire life.”

Sami Seife noted he and his brother occasionally chirp at each other during practice.

“I like to beat him,” he said. “Obviously we’re on the same team, but I feel like we’re always competing against each other [in practice].”  

Spencer Furman said there can be a lot of screaming and physical play between him and his brother.

“It just levels the overall adrenaline rush and desire to win,” he said.

Elizabeth Zimmerman said practices can get competitive because she and her sisters want to see one another improve.

“We are all really competitive and all want to be as good as we can be,” she said.

Buster Couhig said there is no bigger supporter than a sibling. He also said he can’t wait to see what his brother does in the future.

“Seeing all of his work pay off makes me so happy and so proud,” he said.

The hard work by these siblings and the rest of their team has contributed to two winning programs. 

Since both squads first featured the siblings on their rosters, the women’s win-loss record sits at 38-4-3, while the men’s record is at 26-9-11.

Sarah Zimmerman said the closeness of her team contributes to its success.

“Our soccer world is a kind of niche bubble that not everybody understands,” she said. “It’s like everybody is friends with everyone.”

Nati Seife said Sami Seife isn’t the only one on the team who feels like a brother.

“I think we’re all a family. It doesn’t feel like anything too crazy, having a lot of siblings on the team,” he said.