Lewis coping with life on ASU soccer team without twin sister
Ariela Lewis
“I played with Aaliyah for 18 years and to not have her on the pitch is sad,” Ariela told me. “She was my better half – except when we went one-on-one.”
Together, they made up the NCAA’s top sister scoring act in the country.
On her own now, Lewis has turned to her ASU sisters to help make her senior season special.
Teammate Lexi Krieger of Oregon did her best impression of Aaliyah with a goal and beautiful assist to Lewis for the game-winning score in the 87th minute to provide a 2-1 win over Alcorn State in Lorman, Mississippi.
All three goals in the game came in the final seven minutes.
“It was just insane,” Lewis said.
The goal was her fourth of the season and 49th score in 67 career games with the NCAA D1 Hornets in Montgomery, Alabama.
“Lexi chipped it between the two defenders – beautiful split – and as the goalkeeper came out I sort of half volleyed it with the inside of my left foot,” she said. “It literally felt like time slowed down when I was watching all this happen. It was amazing.”
Lewis, of Dimond High fame, ranks in the top 10 among NCAA active players with 125 career points.
Aaliyah finished with 147 career points and holds the school record for goals [57] and assists [33].
Ariela is completing her fifth year of eligibility after missing her second season with a knee injury. Her sister graduated last year.
“Lucky for me she still comes to yell at me to move my butt,” Ariela said with a laugh. “I just wish she was in the No. 12 jersey, right next to me again. It’s an adjustment but with the talent we have we are doing our best to make up for it.”
Alabama State improved to 3-5 on the season – 3-1 when Lewis finds the net.