Morelli twins have both goals covered for Manhasset

When Manhasset's twin brother-sister goaltender tandem of Frank and Grace Morelli were set up for a photo shoot - both standing in front of a net with lacrosse balls tossed at them - it quickly turned into competition. As it usually does between these two.

The 17-year-old juniors battled for position, sticks in hand, for the chance to make a few saves on Manhasset's turf field. "I'm gonna box you out," Grace told her brother before one ball was thrown. Frank poked her away with the butt of his goalie stick during another try. "You're so annoying," Grace said.

Frank, a righty, is the starting goaltender for the undefeated and nationally ranked boys team. Grace, a lefty and about a minute older than her brother, is part of another pair - she typically splits time between the pipes with senior Jen Levy - for the nationally ranked girls.

It's not double trouble, but twice blessed with the Morellis around.

"We're pretty alike in a lot of ways," Grace said. "We get along really well. We have the same group of friends. We have the same grades. We compete with each other so much.''

Both will play in Nassau Class C championship games this week. The girls, with a 15-1 record, play Tuesday and the boys, 16-0, play Wednesday. Both teams have aspirations of deep playoff runs as they are the top-ranked Class C squads in the state.

Frank has been a starter since April 24, when the Indians' Chris Boukas was injured. He said the season has been "nerve-racking," but he has played well, including a 12-save effort in his first start, a 7-6 win over rival Garden City in the annual Woodstick Classic. Frank already has drawn interest from Division I colleges.

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

Grace alternates during games with the righthanded Levy, a switch that girls coach Danielle Gallagher likes because it forces opposing shooters to adjust. Grace had a particularly strong game May 13 against rival Farmingdale, making six saves, all in the second half, including two key stops on free-position shots as Manhasset won, 13-10. She is a college prospect, too.

"They're both very focused on the ball, athletic, have quick hands and great outlet passes," Manhasset boys coach Bill Cherry said. "They're pretty similar."

They are competitive, as well, but also help each other. Frank, a middle linebacker on the football team, takes practice shots in the yard on Grace. She regularly plays against his friends. "Makes me tough," she said.

Both have played since about the first grade and they talk about technical goalie skills. "We both love lacrosse, so there's always someone to talk to," Frank said. "I'll tell her if she's doing something wrong. Sometimes, her stance isn't high enough."

Grace also points out things. "Keep his head up, because sometimes he gets down if he lets a goal in. But this year, he's really stepped up," she said. "I'm really proud of him."

During the Manhasset boys' 19-3 win over Seaford in the Class C semifinal at Hofstra on Wednesday, the twins' father, Frank, said he text-messaged score updates to Grace. "They root for each other," he said.

Frank and Grace are the second pair of twins in the immediate family. Their older brother and sister, Tom and Lizzie, both 21, graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta this weekend. Tom was a goalie and Grace and Frank looked up to him. Chris, 25, is the Morellis' oldest child, followed by Katie, 24.

"We have two sets of twins and two singles," their mom, Lois, said with a tone that suggested she's said that line before. "People say, 'Why do they want to be goalies?' Because they're so used to ducking from the older kids."

When they stopped ducking and started stopping shots is when this twin tale began.