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Sisters Across the Field: Goldthwaite’s Unforgettable Matchups
10/14/2026 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.-- When Phoebe Goldthwaite looked across the field at Boston College on Oct. 10, she saw a familiar face on the other side.
For the Duke women's soccer senior, playing against her sister Baylor Goldthwaite had a different meaning than most matchups. The two had grown up competing against each other, but now they were facing off at the collegiate level, with Phoebe wearing Duke blue and Baylor representing Boston College.
It was a moment Phoebe had experienced once before. During her freshman season in 2023, she played against her oldest sister, Peyton Goldthwaite, who competed for the University of Virginia before graduating in 2024.
Having the opportunity to play against both of her sisters during her time at Duke has given Phoebe a pair of memories she will carry long after her college career ends.
"It's odd and surreal knowing it's the last time this will ever happen," Phoebe said of playing against Baylor. "It was good to see our parents experience that."
For their parents, the matchups have meant finding a way to support both sides. Phoebe said they enjoy the experience, even if it means showing up in mismatched gear to represent their daughters' respective teams.
For Phoebe, the experience is a reminder of the years spent growing up alongside two sisters who helped shape the competitor she is today.
As the youngest of three, she was surrounded by competition from an early age. All three sisters played soccer, and Phoebe also participated in taekwondo until she was 12 or 13 before ultimately choosing soccer. She played basketball in middle school, too, but the soccer field remained a place where the sisters could challenge one another.
That competitive environment helped shape how Phoebe approaches the game today. It also meant that playing against her sisters at the college level came with a unique familiarity. The three had trained together growing up, though they did not play club soccer together.
The matchups were never something they necessarily planned for. Phoebe said playing alongside Peyton in college had come close to happening, but joining the same program was never a priority. Their competitiveness may have played a part in that.
Instead, they found themselves on opposite sides of the field, each pursuing her own college career.
The experience against Peyton during Phoebe's freshman season felt strange at first. Seeing her sister across the field brought a sense of disbelief, and the two shared a laugh as they took in the moment.
Against Baylor, the dynamic was different. With a smaller age gap, Phoebe described their relationship as more competitive. The two had even played indoor soccer together at Next Level, where their chemistry earned them the nickname "Dynamic Duo" whenever they shared the field.
One of their most meaningful memories came when they won 2024 USL championship together, giving them one final opportunity to accomplish something significant as teammates.
Now, with their college careers taking them in different directions, those shared experiences have added meaning to their time on the field together and apart.
Although the sisters talk before their matchups, Phoebe said their conversations are not always centered on soccer. They might joke around or talk about other things, but once the game begins, the competition takes over. Afterward, the family occasionally jokes about who won, though Phoebe said they try not to press the issue if it might become a sore spot.
The memories have become part of a larger journey for Phoebe at Duke.
As a freshman in 2023, Phoebe arrived at Duke during a season that ended without an NCAA Tournament appearance. Over the following years, she helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA College Cup appearances and an ACC regular-season title. She continued to develop, earning a larger role within the program and becoming a significant contributor as a senior.
Phoebe has started four consecutive matches and six games overall on the season. She has one goal, a career-high four assists and six points in 2026. Her 692 minutes played also mark a career high.
Head coach Kieran Hall has seen that growth firsthand. He said Phoebe's mindset and work rate have been among her defining qualities since the day she arrived, describing her as a selfless, team-first player who has become popular among her teammates.
"She competes," Hall said. "She gives us something in midfield that is a little different."
Hall also pointed to Phoebe's development on the ball and her overall game, crediting her attitude and desire to improve and help the team for the progress she has made throughout her career.
That growth has unfolded alongside a senior class that Hall said has experienced the highs and lows of college athletics together. The group arrived at Duke in 2023 and has grown in responsibility while building close relationships, creating a shared experience that extends beyond the field.
For Phoebe, those team memories are central to what she will take away from her time at Duke. Even when reflecting on personal milestones, including scoring her first goal, she said the memories made with the entire team mean more.
Her experience against her sisters fits naturally into that collection of memories, connecting her life away from Duke with the relationships she has built during her college career.
Duke also offered Phoebe the balance she wanted when choosing a school. Academics, athletics and social life all mattered, and her campus visit showed her a culture that extended beyond soccer. The opportunity to compete in the ACC while remaining accessible to her family was another part of the appeal.
Now, as she approaches the end of her senior season, Phoebe is taking the future day by day, considering what comes next while continuing to focus on the team in front of her.
When she looks back on her college career, the images of Peyton and Baylor across the field will remain distinctive. She remembers the laughter during warmups against Peyton and the surreal feeling of lining up against Baylor, knowing the opportunity might never come again.
For a family that spent years competing together, those moments brought their shared history into a new setting. And for Phoebe, they became another meaningful part of the journey she has made at Duke.
#GoDuke
For the Duke women's soccer senior, playing against her sister Baylor Goldthwaite had a different meaning than most matchups. The two had grown up competing against each other, but now they were facing off at the collegiate level, with Phoebe wearing Duke blue and Baylor representing Boston College.
It was a moment Phoebe had experienced once before. During her freshman season in 2023, she played against her oldest sister, Peyton Goldthwaite, who competed for the University of Virginia before graduating in 2024.
Having the opportunity to play against both of her sisters during her time at Duke has given Phoebe a pair of memories she will carry long after her college career ends.
"It's odd and surreal knowing it's the last time this will ever happen," Phoebe said of playing against Baylor. "It was good to see our parents experience that."
For their parents, the matchups have meant finding a way to support both sides. Phoebe said they enjoy the experience, even if it means showing up in mismatched gear to represent their daughters' respective teams.
For Phoebe, the experience is a reminder of the years spent growing up alongside two sisters who helped shape the competitor she is today.
As the youngest of three, she was surrounded by competition from an early age. All three sisters played soccer, and Phoebe also participated in taekwondo until she was 12 or 13 before ultimately choosing soccer. She played basketball in middle school, too, but the soccer field remained a place where the sisters could challenge one another.
That competitive environment helped shape how Phoebe approaches the game today. It also meant that playing against her sisters at the college level came with a unique familiarity. The three had trained together growing up, though they did not play club soccer together.
The matchups were never something they necessarily planned for. Phoebe said playing alongside Peyton in college had come close to happening, but joining the same program was never a priority. Their competitiveness may have played a part in that.
Instead, they found themselves on opposite sides of the field, each pursuing her own college career.
The experience against Peyton during Phoebe's freshman season felt strange at first. Seeing her sister across the field brought a sense of disbelief, and the two shared a laugh as they took in the moment.
Against Baylor, the dynamic was different. With a smaller age gap, Phoebe described their relationship as more competitive. The two had even played indoor soccer together at Next Level, where their chemistry earned them the nickname "Dynamic Duo" whenever they shared the field.
One of their most meaningful memories came when they won 2024 USL championship together, giving them one final opportunity to accomplish something significant as teammates.
Now, with their college careers taking them in different directions, those shared experiences have added meaning to their time on the field together and apart.
Although the sisters talk before their matchups, Phoebe said their conversations are not always centered on soccer. They might joke around or talk about other things, but once the game begins, the competition takes over. Afterward, the family occasionally jokes about who won, though Phoebe said they try not to press the issue if it might become a sore spot.
The memories have become part of a larger journey for Phoebe at Duke.
As a freshman in 2023, Phoebe arrived at Duke during a season that ended without an NCAA Tournament appearance. Over the following years, she helped lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back NCAA College Cup appearances and an ACC regular-season title. She continued to develop, earning a larger role within the program and becoming a significant contributor as a senior.
Phoebe has started four consecutive matches and six games overall on the season. She has one goal, a career-high four assists and six points in 2026. Her 692 minutes played also mark a career high.
Head coach Kieran Hall has seen that growth firsthand. He said Phoebe's mindset and work rate have been among her defining qualities since the day she arrived, describing her as a selfless, team-first player who has become popular among her teammates.
"She competes," Hall said. "She gives us something in midfield that is a little different."
Hall also pointed to Phoebe's development on the ball and her overall game, crediting her attitude and desire to improve and help the team for the progress she has made throughout her career.
That growth has unfolded alongside a senior class that Hall said has experienced the highs and lows of college athletics together. The group arrived at Duke in 2023 and has grown in responsibility while building close relationships, creating a shared experience that extends beyond the field.
For Phoebe, those team memories are central to what she will take away from her time at Duke. Even when reflecting on personal milestones, including scoring her first goal, she said the memories made with the entire team mean more.
Her experience against her sisters fits naturally into that collection of memories, connecting her life away from Duke with the relationships she has built during her college career.
Duke also offered Phoebe the balance she wanted when choosing a school. Academics, athletics and social life all mattered, and her campus visit showed her a culture that extended beyond soccer. The opportunity to compete in the ACC while remaining accessible to her family was another part of the appeal.
Now, as she approaches the end of her senior season, Phoebe is taking the future day by day, considering what comes next while continuing to focus on the team in front of her.
When she looks back on her college career, the images of Peyton and Baylor across the field will remain distinctive. She remembers the laughter during warmups against Peyton and the surreal feeling of lining up against Baylor, knowing the opportunity might never come again.
For a family that spent years competing together, those moments brought their shared history into a new setting. And for Phoebe, they became another meaningful part of the journey she has made at Duke.
#GoDuke
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