By Tyler Aragao, staff writer

What do Sao Paulo, Brazil and Rindge, New Hampshire have in common? They’re both the homes of Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer players Nathalia Maria da Silva and Veronica Marques. The two dynamic players have a history that dates all the way back to their childhood days growing up in one of Brazil’s most populous states.

For Veronica, her story starts at the age of seven, when she was always watching her dad, who played and coached. Ironically, the Ravens’ premiere scorer began her soccer journey as a keeper. Fortunately for the Ravens, Marques’ father saw his daughter’s footwork and natural ball-handling abilities and knew playing up front would be a better fit.

With no girl’s team to play for, Marques’ dad took matters into his own hands, as he created a team and recruited local girls to play. With a roster of six, Marques was able to play in futsal tournaments on all-girls teams.

For Nathalia, her journey in soccer began later on. “I actually started off with ballet and dancing,” said da Silva, who much like Marques, got introduced to soccer through her dad. “My love for the sport really grew through going to my dad’s games,” said da Silva, who began playing organized soccer when she was around 10 years old. Da Silva played for her public high school as well as for a small club team. She would not get her first big breakthrough until she was offered a spot to play for a private school.

Both players were talented and tenacious and, in 2008, these two forces would collide head on. With Marques playing forward and da Silva at center back on opposing teams, the budding rivalry between the two began. “We hated each other at first,” said both in near unison. While the on-the-field rivalry heated up, both players respected and enjoyed each other’s company off the pitch.

A year later, in 2009, with a Sao Paulo club named Portuguesa, the two found themselves on the same side, yet still competing against each other just has hard. “We wanted to outscore each other,” said Marques, to which da Silva quickly reassured, “it was healthy self-competition.” The intensity between the two on the pitch helped both improve, not only as athletes, but as people. “I was a bit cocky in the beginning,” said da Silva. “So was I,” said Marques as the two friends laughed. The two quickly began to realize their competitive natures would not only strengthen their play, but friendship as well.

In 2011, things nearly hit a snag when da Silva had to choose between playing for her school or her club team. Just by fate, the club ended up merging with the school team, and da Silva and Marques were quickly reunited. From 2009 till 2015, the two not only played with each other but they tore up the competitors. In 2011-12, the two dominated at the club level. “We just had the chemistry,” said da Silva, “there’s no other way to explain it.” That chemistry would not fade away, even after da Silva was chosen to represent Sao Paulo in a U17 national tournament. With da Silva playing for national glory, which her team achieved on an undefeated run, Marques’ future was in jeopardy, after back-to-back leg injuries in 2012 and 2013 caused her to miss three years. The two drifted apart, as da Silva made her way to the States for college, while Marques continued to recover, with the hopes of finding a good club team and securing a scholarship.

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The city of Sao Paulo and the town of Rindge could not be more different from one another. Yet, as fate would put it, Nathalia Maria da Silva found herself at Franklin Pierce in August of 2015. As a freshman student, da Silva found the small, rural school through an old friend. Senior forward Fernanda Marques (no relation to Veronica), who has known Nat since the age of five, reached out to her old friend after then-head coach Jeff Bailey ‘92 expressed a desire to add another talented striker. “I sent Jeff a video and he liked what he saw,” said da Silva, behind a bit of a smile.

Back in Brazil, Veronica Marques struggled to get healthy, but still held the desire to step back on to the pitch. Marques was not only able to regain health, but found the opportunity to play collegiately. As a freshman in 2016, Marques suited up for current Ravens head coach Jonathan Garbar, at his previous stop at Monroe College. She played in seven games, registering three goals, three assists and nine total points. When coach Garbar took up the job at Franklin Pierce, he brought a handful of former players with him. Marques was one of them, and it did not take long for the two Brazilians to become reacquainted. Marques missed the early portion of her first season with the Ravens, but in eight games played (seven starts), the forward struck for six goals, two assists, and 14 points, with half of her goals being game-winners.

Marques’ long-awaited arrival did not disappoint and the dazzling display of offensive skills between her and da Silva was instrumental in the Ravens’ unexpected run to the Northeast-10 Conference championship match last fall. This season, the results have improved, with the Ravens sitting atop the Conference with an 11-1-2 record and a national ranking of No. 11.  In their first full season playing with each other at Franklin Pierce, the two Brazilians have combined for 20 of the Ravens’ 35 goals, which represents 57% of the team’s offense. In their two years as collegiate teammates, they have combined for 53 games played (49 starts), 33 goals, 12 assists, 78 points and 13 game-winning goals. Much like they did back in their futsal days, the two friends dominate their opposition.

The team has an opportunity on Sunday to clinch the top seed in the NE10, which would allow the Ravens to host the league tournament for as long as they remain in it. Rindge, New Hampshire may be far removed from da Silva and Marques’ home of Sao Paulo, yet through fate and friendship, the duo may make it the home of an NE10 champion, and perhaps much more.