Heading into a fifth season with their respective UNBC Northern Timberwolves soccer teams, Andrea Bertulli and Scott DeBianchi are the only UNBC players who were there for the start of it all in 2007, the year the T-wolves joined the B.C. Colleges Athletic Association.
But the bond they share goes way beyond soccer.
Bertulli has the engagement ring to prove it.
"He took me to the Ancient Forest and right under the waterfall he proposed," smiled Bertulli.
"That was in April 2010 and hopefully next summer we'll get married. We're both in school and it's hard. I want to plan something so we're not dropping all our money."
The two met in Grade 10 at Prince George secondary school and became a couple right after their high school graduation, seven years ago.
"It's good that we get to do this together," said Bertulli. "It takes a lot of commitment and we're going through the same thing with school and soccer practice at night, so we understand why the other person isn't around or is too tired to hang out."
Bertulli, 25, is now in her third year studying nursing, while DeBianchi is majoring in finance. He'll be finished with his program in April.
"We'll get married after I graduate," said DeBianchi, who turns 25 in October.
"We've been very busy and she's awesome. We complement each other very well. I couldn't ask for a better partner."
Not only are they the longest-serving T-wolves, both are central figures for their teams, which host the Langara Falcons today and the Quest Kermodes of Squamish on Sunday on the BCCAA's season-opening weekend.
Like her future husband, Bertulli is the T-wolves captain, the team leader on and off the field, capable of filling the gap in centre midfield or on defence. In 2009 she was named a second-team all-star, the first UNBC woman ever selected a BCCAA all-star in soccer.
"I never thought I'd be here for five years," Bertulli said. "I thought I'd be done school by now. It's worked out really well and I'm sad that this is my last year. It's a good feeling to look back knowing we started it off.
"Even though we didn't have the best record, it's the first few years into the soccer program and if we can build it for the future and help it grow it makes us feel good. UNBC has a lot to offer and we want local girls to stay here."
DeBianchi is in his fifth year as the captain, a two-time first-team BCCAA all-star as the Twolves centre defender. He's been the team MVP all four previous seasons.
"It's been a good five years and I'm glad I'm having my fifth year at UNBC," said DeBianchi. "Last year when we made provincials and got second at provincials. I've never had that feeling before. We're striving to go to provincials again this year and anything is possible after you get there, it's just a tournament."
