Together, Cony High School triplets Hayley, Emily and Lindsey Quirion have a combined weight of an average NFL lineman. But don’t underestimate them.

Turning them loose on a soccer field is like dumping a bag of weasels onto the pitch — tough to catch, then if you do, you may be sorry you did.

Additional Photos

TRIPLETS: Lindsey Quirion, left, Hayley Quirion and Emily Quirion are playing for the Cony Rams soccer team this season. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

“In different ways they are all very intense,” Cony coach Jeff Hersey said. “They hate to lose.”

The sisters were born two minutes apart on March 6, 1996, Hayley first, followed by Emily and Lindsey. Their order of birth seemingly determined their heights, from 5-foot-6 Hayley to 5-1 Lindsey. They aren’t identical and often a teammate is mistaken for one of the triplets based on height alone.

“Sometimes when we’re out with our friends we’ll ask do you know who the triplets are,” Lindsey said. “And they’ll think it’s like me, Emily and (teammate) Olivia (Deeves).”

The juniors all have well defined roles and are critical to the team’s success as the Rams head into a difficult season opener Friday at Mt. Blue. Emily plays forward, Hayley is at midfield and Lindsey plays defense. The trio is just as effective on the basketball court while Hayley and Emily also play lacrosse.

“We’ve been playing together in travel leagues since we were in kindergarten,” Lindsey said.

All three started last year for the Rams but their job descriptions have been rewritten to suit the team’s needs. Emily works up front with senior captain Josie Lee and has a nose for the ball, and like Lee is also a strong defender. Lindsey came into her own on defense last season and earned a starting role at left back after a few games.

“Her aggressiveness was just too much to keep her off the field,” Hersey said “She doesn’t wait for opponents to come at her.”

Hayley is moving from forward to center midfield, a position held by Mia Diplock the past three seasons. She broke her nose playing summer basketball and missed the end of summer soccer as well as the beginning of preseason. Her return to the lineup changed the team’s mindset.

“Up to that time we were having trouble putting the ball into the net,” Hersey said. “The whole attack changed when she got on the field.”

The dynamic among triplets is a little different than it is between twins, simply because of the numbers. Emily and Lindsey joke they sometimes gang up on Hayley and there are the usual battles over clothes. Hayley’s considered the social butterfly of the group and Lindsey admits when push comes to shove, she has the quickest temper. Some of those differences carry over to the field.

“Emily’s really big on winning,” Lindsey said. “Hayley does really good tricks with her feet and is good getting to the goal. I’m more of a defender and stopping people and not letting people push me.”

Hersey sees their competitive nature emerge often during practice.

“The three of them have a lot of pride,” he said. “They don’t want to lose to each other. They have a lot of good natured ribbing of each other when they get involved in those matchups.”

But the similarities are much greater. The team is tight, especially the junior class.

“We all have the same friends and we all play the same sports,” Hayley said. “We’re usually always together. There’s nothing that really separates us.”

All three played a full schedule of basketball and soccer throughout the summer and would be lost without sports. Yet the sisters are all honor roll or high honor roll students. And as hard as they play and practice, they’ll able to put athletics into perspective.

“It’s an absolute blast coaching them,” Hersey said. “They’re always smiling and making the best of every situation.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

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