There is a dynamic sibling duo suiting up for the men’s soccer team this season: Nick and Anthony Markanich.

The twin brothers have already combined for two goals and an assist through four games this season.

Anthony plays defense while Nick plays forward for the Huskies, but both have stood out to Head Coach Ryan Swan.

“Anthony has arguably been our most consistent player over the first four games,” Swan said. “Nick is our top goal scorer right now and is looking dangerous in every game. Those two have helped add a new dimension to our team.”

Despite playing on opposite sides of the field, the bond between the two stands out from across the field.

The type of chemistry the twins have is bound to develop; they’ve played together on the same team their whole lives.

“They played rock, paper, scissors and it took five minutes,” Swan joked. “Naturally, there’s some chemistry between them. At the same time though, I’ve been impressed that they’ve stepped out of their shells. They don’t rely on each other, but yes, when you spend 18 years of your life together you [develop] chemistry. You can see it on the field; they do like to combine [on plays.]”

Nick and Anthony were both very forward about their natural chemistry on the pitch.

“We know where each other is at all times,” Anthony said. “We both know where we are going to move or where the other will pass [the ball].”

“It’s been like that since we were born,” Nick said. “We did everything together. On the field we just know where we’re at. Everything goes good when we work together.”

The brothers said they still do everything together, including academics. They’re both political science majors and have four classes together.

Nick and Anthony last played for Bradley-Bourbonnais High School in Bourbonnais. Starting their college careers hasn’t slowed them down on the field despite tougher competition.

“The competition has been faster, stronger and better,” Nick said. “We transitioned pretty quick onto the team. We fit in pretty well.”

The team has benefitted from the twins’ play amongst other changes; Nick and Anthony are confident the team will finish with a better record than last year.

“I think this team is better than last year’s team,” Anthony said. “We have more chemistry, [and] we pass the ball better. I think we have more winners on the team, players that want to win and hate to lose. That’s what we like; we like winning.”

Nick and Anthony will be in action 8 p.m. Friday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex in the men’s soccer home opener as the Huskies take on the Purdue University Fort Wayne Mastodons.

“We’re excited [for the home opener],” Nick and Anthony said in unison. “Hopefully, we get a good crowd and get a [win] our first home game.”