In most instances, it's the younger sibling who looks up to an older sister or brother.

But, for Sara Young, a junior on Penn State's women's lacrosse team, it has been a younger sister who has served as an endless source of inspiration and pride.

Sara was reunited with her sister Brooke, a freshman attacker for North Carolina, when the two teams met yesterday at Bigler Field. UNC won the contest, 19-9.

"I hope she's learned a lot from me," Sara said.

"I know I've learned so much from her, just by watching her determination. She's way better than I ever was at that age. I'm so proud of her."

However, Sara doesn't respect her sister simply because of her athletic abilities and accomplishments. It's what she had been through, and what she has overcome to

get to this point in her career, that has made Brooke the object of her sister's admiration.

"She has overcome a lot in her life," Sara said of Brooke, who suffers from juvenile diabetes. "It's just amazing to see what she's done and how she's come through everything."

Brooke found out she had the disease during her junior year at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester. It was also Sara's freshman year at Penn State, so the diagnosis made the separation of two extremely close sisters even harder.

However, by continuing to excel in the sports she loved, Brooke quickly convinced Sara that no illness could ever stop her.

"She never let it get to her," Sara said. "Even now it doesn't bother her at all. She just brushes it off, and a lot of people don't even know it about her. She has had to take on a lot, and she didn't want to let anyone know."

In fact, Brooke played down the disease and the changes she has had to undergo in order to control it.

"I don't think it has affected me at all," said Brooke, who controls her blood sugar levels by wearing an insulin pump. "I don't play with my pump on, so I don't ever think about it when I play. I don't feel different or anything."

However, one difference that Brooke, or Sara, can't deny is the fact that they now compete for different programs. The sisters spent just two years together at Henderson, but that short time was long enough for the Youngs to lead their team to two state championships.

"It was always a one-two combination," Sara said of their time at Henderson. "It was always the Young sisters, so it's hard to see her on another team."

Actually, Sara hoped Brooke would follow in her footsteps and become a Nittany Lion. However, despite it being one of her top two choices, Brooke decided to bypass Penn State and establish herself independently at UNC.

"It's hard to see her on the other bench," said Sara, fighting back tears. "But she made her decision and she's happy with it, and I'm happy for her."

So, since they're now miles apart at

different schools, the two sisters keep in touch by talking on the phone almost every day.

And they look forward to opportunities, such as this weekend, that allow them to spend time together, catch up, and enjoy the new interfamily rivalry.

"We've been talking about this game since we found out she was going to Carolina," Sara said.

"It was a hard loss, but next year they're dead."