UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Growing up in a lacrosse family, twin sisters Kara and Regan Nealon don't remember a time when a lacrosse stick wasn't in their hands.
After all, the twins' father, Denny, was a lacrosse player at Navy. Their brother, also named Denny, played lacrosse at Lehigh.
"I don't really remember the first time [I picked up a lacrosse stick], but basically our whole life we have been playing with our older and younger brothers and our dad around the backyard," Regan said.
Kara and Regan have always played on the same team, and they both grew up playing midfield too. As kids, they would practice together, which made them excel at reading the other on the field. There was no reason to put them on separate teams – and for their parents, having to drive to only one practice spot or one game every week was easier than two.
Now both Nittany Lions, the twins can't imagine playing lacrosse without each other.
In high school, the two played for Garnet Valley. Both Kara and Regan had stints as team captain, with Regan serving two years. The two have many memories together throughout their years of playing together, but one goal in the state quarterfinals especially sticks out to both of them.
"In double overtime in state quarterfinals, I had an assist to Regan for the game-winning goal," Kara said.
"It was against our rival … so that's probably my favorite one too," Regan added.
While they never planned on going to the same college, Penn State was an easy choice for both girls. It was in their home state, had phenomenal facilities, fantastic coaches and just felt comfortable.
"We were getting recruited by most of the same places and then once we visited Penn State, we both were like 'I want to go there,'" Regan said.
For Kara, playing without her sister at Panzer every week would be unimaginable.
"It's kind of hard for us to know any different because we have been in the same places growing up," she said.
The two still practice together in the summer and on breaks, helping each other with runs and conditioning. They push each other to improve, and know the other's game as well as they know their own.
Off the field, the two are inseparable.
"We live in the same house together with two other roommates. Next year we're kind of living apart – we're in the same house, but it's split in half so it's like kind of the first time we're apart," Regan said with a laugh. "It's just fun, we're around each other a lot.
"All the big memories, where it's usually with our group of friends… it's cool to have the fun college experiences and have your sister with you along the way."
In their junior season, Kara and Regan know how lucky they have been to succeed in their lacrosse careers alongside each other. It's something they don't take for granted.
"It's cool because both of us have always dreamed of playing Division I lacrosse," Regan said. "So, for both of us to do it together has been awesome."
