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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida Women’s Soccer team boasts a diverse roster of youthful talent and veteran experience. For most of the players, arriving at UNF for the first time means meeting many new faces. But for freshman forward Sophia Pontieri, the arrival to campus meant playing alongside someone who grew up under the same roof.
Sophia and redshirt junior forward/midfielder Isabella Pontieri are in their first season as teammates for North Florida in 2025, continuing a bond on and off the field that’s held true since childhood.
“I feel like practice every day together is such a blessing,” Isabella said.
Not every athlete can say they can read their teammates’ minds. Moreover, not many get to play at the Division I level with their siblings – but this is not the case for the Pontieri sisters.
Either they are telepathic, or their different playing styles and years of dedication caused not only their personal relationship to strengthen, but also their chemistry on the field.
“Obviously we [were] competitive when we were younger, but now we’re a lot closer because we can see each other as very helpful,” Sophia said. “I feel like [Isabella] is always trying to make me better, and I always want to be accountable.”
Wanting to be accountable is one of various characteristics the Pontieri sisters share in common. Sophia and Isabella recall moments where they pushed each other to be the best they could be, noting that it never caused a rift because of how strong their relationship is.
When asked how soccer has impacted their relationship on the field, Isabella emphasized how they’ve made each other better.
“Sometimes she would even come to my practices and it would make me a lot better,” Isabella said. “We can help assess each other’s game, and I think we’ve done that a lot growing up.”
These moments spent on the field together are not taken for granted.
Isabella has embraced a new role as a captain for North Florida this season. Although she’s harder on Sophia than most of her teammates, they both know it’s coming from a place of helping the team improve. As a result, the sisters are already dreaming of winning an ASUN Championship together.
It wouldn’t be the first championship the Pontieri sisters have won. When asked about a memorable moment they shared while playing together, Isabella and Sophia reminisced on their high school careers while pointing to the future with UNF.
“We won state championships together, and we’re going to win games here, and hopefully an ASUN championship one day together here,” Isabella said.
