First installment of the Feature Friday Series

(Editor's Note: This is the first installment of several in this year's Feature Friday Series, which will look more in-depth into the lives of Franklin Pierce student-athletes. This week's feature focuses on Katie Weldon, a freshman keeper for the women's soccer team, who talks about growing up and being competitive with her older sister, Maggie, who is a goalie for the Southern New Hampshire women's soccer team.)

By Morgan Miller
Franklin Pierce Athletics Student Writer

Franklin Pierce women's soccer freshman goalie Katie Weldon has always been competitive with her older sister, Maggie, who is a senior goalie for Southern New Hampshire University. 

Recently, the two sisters got the opportunity to renew their intense rivalry as the Ravens took on SNHU in the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both teams back on Sept. 3 in Manchester. In the end, it was the younger Weldon who came out victorious as Franklin Pierce earned an important 2-1 decision in overtime. 

Despite playing on opposite teams and being very competitive at an early age, Katie has always looked up to Maggie and has admired her dedication to the sport of soccer.

"We both started playing soccer around the same time, but she definitely influenced me to play goalie," Katie said. "We would both just play around in the back yard and since she was older she played on a team first, so of course I wanted to do the same."

After being influenced by Maggie to play soccer at such a young age, Katie has gone on to develop an impressive resume in the sport even before arriving at Franklin Pierce. During her junior season at Manchester West High School, she earned first-team all state honors as a goalkeeper. She was also named her school's Fall Female Athlete of the Year during her sophomore season and earned honorable mention all-state honors as a freshman.

Maggie has also produced some impressive numbers during her time goal tending at SNHU. During the 2011 season, she made 12 appearances in goal with 11 starts, while also totaling 44 saves with two shutouts. 

Unfortunately, Katie had to sit out the game with an injury when Franklin Pierce played SNHU in early September. However, there was still competition in the air between the two siblings. Maggie was in goal and played solid despite the loss, while Katie was busy supporting her teammates anyway possible.

"It was a very back and forth game," Katie said. "SNHU has a very good defense and we have a very good offense so it was a close game the entire time."

Katie expressed how proud she was of her sister even though Franklin Pierce ended up earning the one goal victory. "Maggie is very competitive so she was really upset with the loss, but she played an amazing game," she said. "I'm proud of everything she has done during her career. She is deserving of everything she's accomplished."

Since that overtime victory, Katie has been cleared to play and she said she hopes that Franklin Pierce will get another chance to play SNHU in the postseason. This time, though, she would love to work her way into the lineup and go head-to-head against her older sister in a collegiate match. It would be an exciting new chapter, and a different venue, for a rivalry which began in the simple surroundings of the back yard of their parent's house.