Two of them are from one Anchorage family.
Ariela Lewis last night joined twin sister Aaliyah Lewis in the exclusive 30/20 Club after bagging two goals and an assist for Alabama State University in an 8-0 win over Faulkner in Montgomery, Alabama.
“To be able to say I’ve achieved such a goal is a great feeling, especially knowing my sister is also one of the other four in the club,” Ariela told me. “That makes it even cooler.”
It was the fifth goal and first assist for Ariela this season. The redshirt junior forward has 32 goals and 20 assists in 46 career games.
“Not only am I glad I reached this goal for myself, but I feel like none of this was possible if it wasn’t for my parents, coaches and teammates who helped me,” she said.
It’s odd that Ariela hadn’t assisted on a goal until last night because she has a reputation as being a playmaker and getting other players involved.
“I love being a team player and when I set up a teammate’s goal it really puts a smile on my face,” Ariela said.
It helps having her sister at her side. Aaliyah is a two-time conference player of the year and the greatest scorer in Alabama State history.
The senior forward collected two goals and two assists against Faulkner to increase her totals to 47 goals and 28 assists in 67 games.Together, the former Dimond High all-stars have combined for 70 goals at Alabama State to make up one of the top sister scoring acts in NCAA history.
“I would absolutely trade this for an NCAA berth,” Ariela said.
Alabama State has been close, losing the championship game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2015 and 2013, which carried an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
“To be in the NCAA Tournament would mean everything to me and my teammates,” Ariela said.