The text was coming from inside the house. 

“See you March 25,” read the message on Albany goalie Georgia Schneidereith’s phone.

It came from a future opponent, but the text was not as threatening as one might think. The senders were Georgia’s sisters, Jamie and Lucy, who play for Drexel. The Schneidereiths — whose fourth sister, Maggie, plays for Johns Hopkins — are believed to be the first quadruplets to play Division I sports. 

Drexel has played Hopkins in the past few seasons, but this will be the first time the Dragons play Albany since the foursome’s freshman year. It should finally bring the answer to a question that has hung over the family for years. What happens when an unstoppable quadruplet running downfield meets an immovable quadruplet waiting in the cage?

In 2017, in the waning moments of a 20-7 victory for Albany over visiting Drexel, the young Schneidereith sisters were all inserted into the game. Jamie came running down from the 12-meter arc and was about to let the ball rip when the whistle sounded to end the game. Albany’s goalie exhaled.

“I was like, ‘Whew that was close,’” Georgia said. “Either they would have scored, or I would have saved it. We’ll see what happens. I’ve been taking notes and watching them.”

Jamie and Lucy agreed it would be impossible to guess what would have happened if the game continued.

“I definitely had a full head of steam coming,” Jamie said. “Let’s just say I’m kind of glad it ended there. This year though, different story.”

It is indeed a different story. Drexel is a CAA contender, a far cry from its 7-9 season in 2017. Lucy is an offensive weapon. Jamie is a do-it-all contributor.

Albany (had a three-game winning streak snapped March 20 with a close loss at Stony Brook. Despite the outcome, it was a win in one way for the Great Danes, who had Georgia back in the cage for the first time in weeks. Albany’s starting goalie suffered a concussion against Boston College early in the season and said she feels blessed to be back.

She recovered just in time to finally play her sisters. She’s watched remotely during the last few seasons as Drexel lost to Hopkins. Most recently, Maggie and the Blue Jays defeated the Dragons 11-9 in 2020. Maggie scored two goals in that one. Jamie chipped in one of her own. (Neither team will play Maggie this year, since the Big 10 will not play non-conference games.)

March 25 was the first time that Georgia started in goal and saw one of her sisters on the other side. But Drexel’s duo got the better of her in a 15-10 win for the Dragons. Lucy scored three times, and Jamie scored once. Georgia made seven saves.

“It’s interesting because we haven’t played against each other like ever, really,” Jamie said. “And we’ve all changed so much. We don’t know as many insights as we used to.” 

A silver lining in the cloud that was 2020, the game never would have happened if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Before each Schneidereith sister ultimately independently decided to come back for a fifth year, they enjoyed spending time under the same roof in Maryland for the first time since high school. Anyone who’s had a sibling or friend go to Drexel knows the school’s unique trimester system and co-op program means you’re never home at the same time. 

“It felt like high school again, in a better way,” Lucy said. “We had to lean on each other a little more. We had to learn to live together today and find the fun. It was a blessing in disguise. We all came out different than we came into quarantine, as players and as people.”

The decision to return was easy for Lucy and Jamie. Lucy, who already redshirted one season with an injury, will actually play a sixth season next year while she finishes up her nursing degree. Jamie had a job lined up in Philadelphia, and the company worked with her to let her play another season. Maggie also quickly decided to return to Johns Hopkins. As with most decisions, Georgia took a bit longer.

“Georgia is such a people person, and she really wanted to make sure she was going back for the right reasons and not just because we were all doing it,” Lucy said. “With the four of us, it’s easy to have group think. She really wanted to take her time. She hit a point and was like, ‘I can’t pass this opportunity up.’”

Thanks to Georgia's decision, the Schneidereiths took the field in Philadelphia as opponents. Next year, there’s a chance they take the field in Philadelphia as teammates. 

Jamie is staying in Philadelphia to work. Lucy, to finish her degree. Georgia, whose job will allow her to work remotely, is considering getting a place with Jamie. 

“We only have so many years that we could live together in a non-parent situation before life starts and relationships start,” Georgia said.

When Maggie visits, they might have to rename it the City of Sisterly Love.

“It would be really cool to all end up in Philly,” Jamie said. “It’s so close to home. It would be so great to get Georgia and Maggie here.”

They all want to keep playing. Maybe coach. Maybe join a women’s league. They’re nearly halfway to having a team themselves. To field a full team, the Scheidereiths wouldn’t even need to have quadruplets of their own. If they each have twins, they could field a team and then some. Would that be a possibility?

“I can’t predict that,” Jamie said. “But we’ll see.”

Georgia responded similarly.

“We’ll see what happens,” she said. “That would be quite the story.”

To be fair, it already is.