Towson field hockey player Laura Schnell clearly remembers the phone call with her sister, Kim, that changed their lives last fall.
“I was on a trip and I called her to see how she was doing about deciding on a college to play for,” she said. “She was deciding between here and Maryland. I didn’t say ‘go here or go there,’ but I talked to her about going where she wanted to go, and don’t go somewhere because of me. But don’t not come because of me.”
By the end of the conversation, Kim had no doubt in her mind she wanted to be a Tiger.
“She really helped me work that out,” Kim said. “I had no idea where I was going to go. I didn’t want to go to a big school where I wouldn’t know if I would play.”
Kim’s decision to attend Towson over top-ranked Maryland is turning out to be a great one for the pair of former C. Milton Wright standouts, as the sisters helped lead the Tigers to a record of 7-3 entering the weekend. Laura, a 21-year-old senior midfielder, started every game and has a goal and six assists. Kim, an 18-year-old freshman defender, appeared in eight games and added an assist.
“We have come a long ways from my freshman year,” Laura said. “My class had a lot to do with that — there are five of us and we are all starting.”
After playing soccer and running cross country in middle school, Kim joined her sister on the Mustangs’ field hockey team as a freshman. But anyone familiar with Harford County field hockey isn’t surprised by the Schnell’s success.
After all, it’s in their blood.
Their mother, Bonnie, was a former field hockey standout at East Stroudsburg University in upstate Pennsylvania before being hired as coach of C. Milton Wright High’s team last year.
“It was definitely different having never coached these two before and sitting on the sideline being the mom,” Bonnie said.
Towson coach Michelle Webber said the sisters bring out the best in each other.
“The thing that makes them both special is they absolutely love field hockey and love to play,” she said. “It’s just funny. Sometimes, they get at each other. It’s kind of funny watching them get at it and you have to tell the sisters to stop.”
But it’s hard for the Schnells to slow down — even in the classroom.
Laura is preparing to major in education, as she’s a student-teacher at Prospect Mill Elementary School in Bel Air. Kim is undeclared, but is leaning toward pursuing a career in graphics or design.
“There are a lot of things I am proud of them about,” Bonnie said. “I am glad they are enjoying a sport I love, but I am proud of them academically. Laura is going to be a teacher and Kim is a fantastic artist. They are great, well-rounded individuals and I love them for that.”
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