Growing Together, Winning Together
One took the shot. The other finished it. St.Catherine’s had its long-awaited win.
For St. Catherine’s Class of 2029 twins Emma and Julia Ronnau, that exact moment became even more special when it put an end to a very anticipated eight-year wait. With St. Catherine’s and Trinity Episcopal tied 2-2 in overtime on September 22, the Saints earned a much-needed corner. Emma inserted the ball to teammate Lilian Harter, who found Julia at the top of the circle and slipped her the ball. Julia drove her shot toward the left post, and Emma was waiting right there to get her stick on it.
Goal!
The Ronnau twins had teamed up for the very special golden goal, which sent St. Catherine’s to a 3-2 overtime victory over Trinity – the school’s first win over them in eight years. “It was a really exciting finish,” Emma said. “Julia drove it to the left post, and I was able to tip it in for the win.”
That is the kind of play that has become so familiar for the Ronnaus: Julia creating the opportunity, Emma finishing it, and both of the girls trusting that the other will be exactly where she needs to be. This “twin chemistry” isn’t something that developed overnight. Emma and Julia have been playing together since fifth grade, when their mom – a former field hockey player herself – encouraged them to give field hockey a try.
The two started with indoor field hockey, practicing on the weekends in a small high school gym. They both quickly fell in love with the game, their coaches, and their teammates. Years later, that early connection has developed into one of the biggest strengths they bring to the field.
“I don’t know that I’d say it’s telepathy,” Julia said, “but we have been playing together for so long that we know how each other moves on the field.” For Emma and Julia, that understanding goes beyond simply knowing where the other will be.
It is trust.
Julia primarily plays outside midfield and forward, where she enjoys helping her team move the ball forward and create attacking opportunities. Emma plays center midfield, giving her the chance to contribute on both ends of the field.
Different positions, same goal in mind – and lots of trust between the two of them. “We have a lot of trust with each other, and that gives us extra confidence to know that each other will have our backs on the field,” Emma said.
This connection has helped light the fire of a very impressive start to the season.
St. Catherine’s has opened the year 5-0, including a 6-0 victory over Episcopal High School and a major road win over Norfolk Academy, the region’s No. 2-ranked team. The Ronnau twins have also earned recognition as two of MAX Field Hockey’s Top 100 Players to Watch, adding another accomplishment to an already impressive start to their high school careers.
But for Emma and Julia, their focus remains on the team and constantly improving. For Emma, one of the best parts of playing alongside Julia is having her biggest supporter right there on the field.
“I’m doing what I love with my best friend,” Emma said. “We get to share big moments, and she’s my biggest supporter." Julia sees it the same way. “We’re also both really driven, and so we continually push each other to get better,” she said.
That push extends well beyond game day. Emma and Julia share many of the same goals and have someone beside them who fully understands exactly how much work goes into reaching them.
“It’s really fun to set these long-term goals together, and then when you achieve them there’s someone else there who has seen how hard you worked to get there and what it means,” Julia said.
Their shared approach to the game is simple: keep getting better, “Growth over outcomes,” Julia said. “I believe in putting a lot of effort and passion into everything I do. I know if I do that and keep getting better, the results will be there.”
Like her sister, Emma carries a similar message from her family. Her dad has always told the twins that loving the process of getting better is the most important thing. And that mindset has helped shape the way they play – competitive, connected, and always pushing one another forward.
The overtime winner against Trinity was a perfect snapshot of that relationship. Julia took the shot. Emma finished it. Their teammates rushed onto the field. And in the middle of the pouring rain, two sisters celebrated a moment they had created together.
For Emma and Julia Ronnau, it was another chapter in their field hockey story that started in a small gym in fifth grade.
