CHARLESTON, S.C. –  The College of Charleston women's soccer team ends every practice with three words - "We are Family", which is a testament to the program's strong bond. But for some players, the saying means a little more.  

Charleston has the only set of three sisters playing on the same Division I soccer team in the country. Faith Slimmer, Hope Slimmer and Joy Slimmer all found their way to Charleston in unique ways.   

Leading the pack is Faith, now a redshirt-senior, playing her last season with Charleston women's soccer. Her recruitment process was anything but traditional during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

"I was committed to another school in New Jersey for four years, so I committed in eighth grade," said Faith.  

Throughout her high school career, the Petersburg, New Jersey, native thought she would be spending the next four not too far from home. It was not until the spring before her freshman year she decided she wanted to go a different route.   

"This isn't the school for me right now, so I asked to be released from the team, and I opened up my recruiting process again."  

Faith knew she had four months until preseason at any school and that it would be difficult for her to balance opening her recruitment along with graduating high school at the same time.   

While reaching out to schools, Charleston was suddenly on Faith's radar.  

The Slimmer's have a personal connection to the Holy City with their grandmother living in nearby James Island.  Family is important to Slimmers, and having her nearby contributed to the decision. 

Looking back, Faith describes her experience at Charleston as "the best decision I've ever made, because Charleston is the most perfect place."  

And she has certainly left her mark. Faith is currently tied for the sixth most goals in program history (18) and fourth most assists (18). She earned 2024 First Team All-CAA honors, was named to the Top-Drawer Midseason Top 100 Players in 2024, and the Top-Drawer National Team of the Week in 2024. 

Like any freshman, Faith remembers having hard days adjusting. When the rumblings of another piece of home coming to Charleston started, Faith could not have been more excited. 

Like her older sister, Hope was previously committed to another school closer to home in Philadelphia.  

"Faith made me switch over to Charleston, obviously," Hope said jokingly. 

The sisters kept family close to heart during the college decision process, all while gaining a new one in the Cougars.    

When Hope made her Cougar debut in 2022 versus Alabama A&M, she found the foot of her sister for her first collegiate point. The duo found themselves next to each other on the stat sheet again later in the season with the first Faith to Hope connection for Hope's first career goal. 

After discussions of Hope potentially joining her older sister in Charleston, the Slimmer family began talks of the whole family making the move. When Hope officially put pen to paper, the next step was easy. 

The Slimmer family made the move while the youngest sister, Joy, was still in high school.  Joy started her recruiting process while moving high schools, finishing her prep years at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant.  

With the recruiting window closing and Joy unsure of what the next four years would look like, she began to wonder if playing at the next level was in her cards. When head coach Christian Michner reached out to her for the first time, it was a no brainer to join the family.  

All three Slimmer sisters have been able to play together for two years, something none of them thought would be possible. For the 2023 season, then-junior Faith and sophomore Hope both suffered injuries that would leave them out for the duration of the season. 

What was one of the hardest years of their lives turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Slimmer family.  Joy joined the team as a freshman in 2024, while Faith and Hope returned to the pitch after injury.   

"In high school I had my mind set on another school and was so excited for that chapter of my life," said Hope. Deciding to change schools was no easy decision saying, "this is a family thing, we're putting it into God's hands… we are all together and so close to family."   

Faith now sees the setbacks as her biggest blessing. 

"I'm so grateful for it (the injury), because I got an extra year with Hope and Joy, which we never would have gotten if I had been healthy," said Faith. 

Family is a big part of the Charleston women's soccer team. Parents cheer at matches and host post-game dinners. The Slimmer parents have embraced the team's culture.  

"My parents have been there for every game, they would never miss a game," said Hope. "I know I can turn to them (the team) on all my bad days and my best days, it's like a bunch of sisters, it's so cool."  

It is no secret that all three sisters inherited the soccer gene, but they each have developed an individual playing style. 

 As the youngest, Joy has been able to watch her older sisters develop as soccer players saying, "We all grew up with similar coaches, so we are all pretty good technically."  

She describes Faith's playing style as an attack minded player, while shouting out Hope's defensive and gritty prowess.   

Faith agrees with her youngest sister, adding "Hope will go in for the tackle, but she is also one of the most unselfish players you'll play with."  

Something Faith admires about Hope is that "she wants to do what is best for the team, she deserves the spotlight because she is a great player, but she isn't searching for the spotlight because she is so unselfish."   

Faith also sees both herself and Hope in Joy's playing style. 

"She has twinkle feet, kind of how I am, she's very technical and can get out of pressure well".  

The 2025 season has been one to remember for the Cougars, going 4-3-1 in conference play with one final game Sunday, October 20.  

"It is such a special time to have this second year with my sisters and have such a successful start to CAA play. I think we can go very far if we play to the best of our ability, I think it is going to be a big season for us," said Faith. 

The Slimmer sisters know the weight of their bond on the team. Growing up, their mom always told them that they were best friends and did not have a choice. 

"I choose them to be my best friends too, said Faith, "they're my absolute best friends."