It's not often that Alex, Andrew, and William Shaffer have been able to all be on the same soccer team growing up. With William being two years older than twins Alex and Andrew, having the chance to don a Toledo Villa jersey with his kin was something that he jumped at quickly when asked.

"We've never really had that full season together where we're all playing," William said. "We're living together. We're playing together. It's just a dream come true for us and our family."

William came off the bench in the 80th minute on Wednesday against Buffalo and scored his first career goal for Villa in the 90th to cap a crucial 3-1 win to give Toledo a chance to continue its USL2 Playoff push.

"These are the memories that I'll remember my entire life," Alex said. Last season the twins were on Villa, but getting William on the squad for this season was a great opportunity, he added.

"Having all three of us together has been so rewarding, so fun," Alex said. "It's a great group of guys all around. It's like a big family with Villa, but having my actual family — my twin and older brother here — it's just been unbelievable. 

"One of the best experiences in my life to date, for sure."

Other than William's senior year of high school, the only other time the three Shaffers got to play together — outside of the "thousands" of outside games in their backyard in the Columbus area — was this spring as all three were selected to play for the US Virgin Island World Cup qualifying squad.

"We've had family living in St. Croix for about 10-plus years now," William said. "My roommate at Wright State — before I transferred to Ohio Northern — played on the team and I thought that we might have that connection to get on there as well. 

"I applied in 2021, and I got accepted so I've been playing for a few years," he said. "The twins went through the application process, and were able to do that as well." 

Due to injuries and scheduling conflicts, this past March was the first time all three were able to be in a camp together.

After a 1-1 draw in the first match with the British Virgin Islands, Andrew said the coach of the US Virgin Island squad announced at the team meeting that all three would be starting the second leg of the qualifier.

"The coach had kind of hinted that he was going to maybe start us all in the midfield together because of our chemistry," Andrew said. "And we kind of just gave each other a look. 

"We were all buzzing of course. It was an incredible atmosphere for the game and a very special moment for us."

Being just a few hours from Toledo, Alex said that family from Columbus has been able to make three of the home contests this season and a large group of Shaffers were on hand this week to see William score in the Toledo win.

"They all really love it for sure," Alex said. "They've been coming a lot and they really love it. Our grandparents got involved, and extended family have been coming. Will's girlfriend was here as well, to see him score the goal. 

"I think everyone's just really buying into what we're doing here."

Of course, there's always talk about a "connection" that twins have and Andrew and Alex say they can feel it on the field but William says he's happy they have let him in on that connection this year as well.

Get to Know Alex, Andrew & William Shaffer

Go-to track to listen to that helps you get pumped up for a match?

Alex Shaffer: Classic FIFA songs. I'm a big FIFA guy. I made a little playlist and put it together for the college season. That's become my pregame thing. I find some space and I go through all my favorite FIFA playlist songs. 'Love Me Again' is my go-to for sure. That's the one FIFA song I think of every time I get the playlist ready. So that's the last song I queue up at the end.

Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

William Shaffer: I've been doing it for a few years now. I've really started tapping into the prayer side of things. Before a game, I go somewhere quiet. I'll say a prayer before the game. And then I'll meditate for three minutes and watch some highlights in my soccer career before every game just to get those juices flowing and remembering what it was like. What that feeling was like and trying to replicate it in the game.

Outside of sports, what is a hidden talent or interesting fact about you?

Andrew Shaffer: I don't really do too much. I mean, I'm a good student. (brothers immediately groan) I don't know. I literally do nothing. Oh, I sang in the Taste of America play at school when I was in fourth grade. So I'm a pretty good singer. I like singing in the shower. (laughter ensues)