For freshman Ameliet Rischen, there’s something comforting about playing field hockey with 3,800 miles and the Atlantic Ocean between here and home. Even in a new culture, a new style of hockey and a new school, she needs only to glance at the midfielder next to her to see a familiar face: her sister’s.
After the Terrapins’ victory over No. 13-ranked James Madison Sunday, older sister Berber held the orange handkerchief she’s worn on her head during games since her freshman year as she talked about her sister Ameliet. She said she wears orange because it is the color of the Netherlands.
Ameliet, 18, and Berber, 21, are playing side-by-side this season for the first time ever after playing in different age groups in their native Holland.
“I’ve always been here without any family,” said Berber, a graduate student in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. “It’s always fun to have family around, but it’s really special to share it with your sister.”
Assistant coach Tjerk van Herwaarden coached the sisters in camps and on teams in the Netherlands and brought them together to play for the Terps, Ameliet said. The sisters are two of five children; the four girls in the family began playing field hockey during childhood.
Ameliet said her decision was swayed when Berber chose to come to this university after earning her bachelor’s degree from Kent State in three years. And now, with half the season behind them, their bond has already burgeoned into something extraordinary on the field.
“One of the nicest things is that they really do understand how each other plays,” coach Missy Meharg said. “When they’re next to each other in the midfield, the connection is very pure.”
Illustrating that connection is the occasional in-game dialogue between the sisters – in Dutch, of course.
The Rischens said the experience of coming to a new team for Berber and a new country for Ameliet allowed them to learn together. Berber said her role at Kent State greatly differed from her role here, where she must play as part of a system and cooperate more with her teammates.
For both sisters, the transition from field hockey in Holland to the United States was a noticeable change.
“We really had to get used to the fitness,” Berber said. “It’s a lot more intense than we’re used to at home. [In Holland], we don’t warm up for an hour. We just come out 15 minutes before the game and play our game.”
Meharg said that culturally, the Dutch are “patterned and brought up to play very similarly.” The American style, however, involves being more flexible, making mistakes and thus having counterattack opportunities.
But off the field and away from the tactical discrepancies, other facets of life still necessitate some sisterly attention. Ameliet, for example, juggles a rigorous schedule and a difficult biology course in addition to the grueling field hockey season. Meharg said she’s performing brilliantly in both pursuits.
“Berber has a tendency to be pretty tough on Ameliet, which is good for her at times,” Meharg said. “Other times I’m just not sure what she’s saying [because it’s in Dutch].”
If there’s any rivalry between the sisters, it’s not apparent at all. Nevertheless, when asked about personality quirks only a sister would know, they weren’t shy about poking a bit of fun at each other.
Ameliet laughed about Berber’s different-sized feet and addiction to green apples, while Berber joked about the way her little sister pronounces some words.
Either way, both Rischens said the season wouldn’t be the same going at it alone.
“She’s there for me and she really helps,” Ameliet said as Berber headed into the locker room, orange handkerchief in hand. “She actually makes me feel home.”
Contact reporter Geremy Bass at geremybass@gmail.com.
