By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
 
The last time the Friedman sisters had gone against each other in field hockey, it was probably in their driveway back home. There's no documentation for who won that last encounter, but what happened Friday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C., has been officially certified.
 
The record books will show that William & Mary defeated Wake Forest, the nation's 12th-ranked team, 2-1 that day. It will show that Pyper Friedman, a junior midfielder, scored both of the Tribe's goals. And it will show there was a Friedman on the Demon Deacons' roster — grad student midfielder Nat Friedman.
 
Younger siblings live for a moment like this. Even if Pyper, who is two years younger, didn't feel like crowing.
 
"Of course, it's pretty cool with the little sister and I don't think anybody was expecting us to win," said Pyper, who on Monday was named CAA Co-Player of the Week. "But I'm not concerned about getting bragging rights with her because I respect her so much. She knows she's a great player and it's not so much us versus each other.
 
"I was honestly less focused on the outcome and more filled with emotion that my whole family was there. And I was on the field with my sister again. It was very cool."
 
It certainly was for their parents, Kevin and Toni-Jean '87, to be able to watch both of their kids playing on the same field — albeit on opposite sides. Kevin wore a Wake Forest shirt and a W&M hat. Toni-Jean (Lisa), a former Tribe defender, wore her alma mater's shirt and a Deacs' hat.
 
Also in the stands were Toni-Jean's parents.
 
"It was so interesting and odd and wonderful," said Toni-Jean, whose sister, Chrissy '90 also played for the Tribe. "We feel so blessed they've been able to follow this sport into college.
 
"Certainly we loved it when they were playing on the same team. This was a great opportunity for them to be proud of their teams. It was a great experience even though we knew one person was not going to be happy."
 
That turned out to be Nat, a three-time All-ACC pick who has started 59 consecutive games. Pyper said her sister was "classy" in defeat.
 
William & Mary and Wake Forest played 14 times from 1988-2018, but it had been five years since they last met. Tribe coach Tess Ellis doesn't shy away from adding ranked opponents to her non-conference schedule — W&M beat No. 16 Duke 2-1 last fall.
 
Plus, there was the Friedman angle.
 
"When I proposed it, I was initially looking to pick up a top-10 team and we hadn't been to Wake in a while," Ellis said. "And if we could get the Friedmans all in one place, it would be great for them and good competition for us.
 
"It was a win-win situation. And as soon as I reached out, Jen (Wake coach Jennifer Averill) said, 'Yep!'"
 
From the moment she heard it was a possibility, Pyper was excited.
 
"I was like, this better be true," she said. "We've both been talking about it for a while.
 
"My parents were so happy. We all came together after the game, the four of us, and my heart was full."
 
Toni-Jean had one request: "All I wanted was a family photo."
 
Both of Pyper's goals came off assists from Sara Bartzen, her best friend and roommate. The first came less than five minutes into the game, her second with less than four minutes remaining in the first half.
 
"We had always said that since I play midfield and she plays forward that we would be the dynamic duo," said Friedman, who before Friday had three goals in 36 career games. "I'd have the assists and she would have the goals. But we flipped it around."
 
Friedman's second goal gave W&M a 2-1 lead. Tribe goalie Maddie George turned back four of the Demon Deacons' five shots on goal.
 
"Our entire defense is what won the game," Freidman said. "That's what we worked on all week in practice. It was good to see it come to fruition in the game."
 
Pyper said she and Nat didn't cross paths much during play.
 
"They moved her from center-mid to center-back, so we didn't really face each other too much," she said. "Maybe one time, but it was weird. I thought we'd go more against each other."
 
Nat was obviously disappointed with the loss but happy for her sister. Pyper was the opposite.
 
"When we were younger, we didn't get along as much because we were so competitive," she said. "Now, it's really cool as adults. We respect each other and we love each other and I know she'll always be there for me.
 
"I can look back and see all the things she taught me. It was a pretty surreal experience."