Isabella Brancati Story

 

As a young goalkeeper playing club soccer in Brampton, Isabella Brancati struggled with her confidence.

“I remember when I was younger I was literally shaking on the field, I was so nervous” the 18-year-old admitted.

But when she joined the Toronto Blizzard program in 2018, her on field demeanour changed and she became a more confident player.

“Having to yell as a goalie and give directions to older girls built my confidence,” said Isabella, now a freshman at Ursuline College in Ohio. “I gained confidence playing against teams in the US because now when I play with the girls in college I’m not as nervous.”

She made the choice to train with the Blizzard when she realized her pathway with the OPDL program at Brams United would end at age 18.

“I wanted a pathway to continue to play at university so the Blizzard was the best decision for me,” she said.

At the Blizzard, she was exposed to very specific training required by her position that she couldn’t receive at her previous clubs.

“Since we had smaller groups I was only training with two or three other keepers,” Isabella stated. “It was more specialized training, focused more on how I was doing and how I was developing as a player.”

When it was time to take the next step in her career, Isabella was well prepared. “I put together my highlight video and I was also more confident reaching out to coaches,” she said.

Isabella chose Ursuline College not only because it was a women’s school so her team wouldn’t have to compete with the boys’ team for field use, but also because of the academic options.

“I’m doing a Humanities double major with English and then I have a minor in pre-Law and a minor in Business,” Isabella said. “I work with my adviser to find the best courses for me. I have a rough draft of my four years already planned so I really like how I have guidance, especially being a student athlete.”

Having graduated from a sports-focused high school, Bill Crothers Secondary in Markham, Isabella found the transition to college life quite seamless.

“I didn’t think it was that different from what I’ve been doing my whole life,” she said.  “I felt if you’re already a student athlete, when you go down to college, it’s the same life, you just moved away from home. It’s all about time management.”

Isabella spent her freshman year at Ursuline as a reserve but expects to see plenty of game action as she progresses through her collegiate career. When asked what advice she would give a young player just coming into the Blizzard program, she emphasized an important characteristic in her development.

“Definitely confidence,” she proclaimed. “When you’re playing with people that are five years older than you or more, it gives you confidence so when you get (to college) you’re not nervous because you’ve been playing with these individuals. It changes your outlook as an athlete because you’re used to playing with people your own age but, in university, it prepares you for the bigger, stronger girls and makes you realize you can be one of them too, playing at their level.”

 

Cyerra Hibbert Story

 

By the time she reached high school, Toronto Blizzard alumnus Cyerra Hibbert was laser focused on a path that would allow her to continue to play soccer when she was ready to graduate.

“I decided I wanted to go to university and pursue soccer so that’s when I felt I needed to start looking at my options,” said Cyerra.

She heard about the Blizzard through one of her friends and decided to attend a tryout and learn more about the program.

“I heard that Joe (Parolini) was university driven and that was his objective. Once I talked to him and figured out what school would be my best fit, that’s how I knew I wanted to train with the program and become a better player.”

Joining the Blizzard program allowed Cyerra to sharpen her skills and become a more complete player in order to be ready to take the next step.

“They teach certain skills that universities look for in players,” said Cyerra. “Beyond the technical and tactical on the field, you’re a player and a person. You have to understand game play and game management and Joe helped you understand that.”

“Every training session we’d focus on ball control,” Cyerra stated. “I think the little things coaches stress helped you to play a full 90 minutes against university players.”

Cyerra’s path to university wasn’t a straight one however. Covid limited her ability to play in tournaments and complicated her progress so she was forced to take the Junior College route. But with the help of her coaches, Cyerra was able to fast track her way through JUCO and ultimately reach her goal of attaining a university scholarship at Illinois State.

“As soon as I got there I fell in love with the campus,” Cyerra admitted. “The small school feeling, the program itself is reputable, especially talking to some of the girls before I decided to commit. The coaches there were great, really inclusive, but beyond that it was the education. They had high standards for biology, which I’m currently studying. They were able to incorporate how I learned and how my day would look which I appreciated.”

From an academic standpoint, Cyerra liked that she had access to hands on research opportunities.

“One thing I really liked was that I was able to connect with an adviser to look at what I really wanted to go into so beforehand I’d know what I’d be interested in,” she said.

On the field, Cyerra transitioned from her natural centre back role to outside back, something she said she was prepared for.

“It was a bit of an adjustment but nothing that Joe hadn’t already taught me within the backline so it was quite easy to go along with it,” Cyerra stated. “Position changes and formation changes were constant but I was also introduced to those things by Joe so it was familiar.   

“By my sophomore year, I was a fullback and I was also made captain so I was able to interact with the girls more and get more into my comfort zone, especially with a big freshman class coming in. I was able to connect with them because I also still felt new to the team.”

As she looks toward her senior year at Illinois State, Cyerra reflects on her time in the Blizzard program and offers two words of advice to aspiring players who may look to follow her path.

“Trust and discipline,” Cyerra said. “Those are the two big things Joe has made me believe in, even though some days you may question practices and question your training. Not everything is dedicated to what you specifically need to work on but overall everything makes you a better player.

“One thing I’m happy about was working on our fitness and health and making sure you show up to practice every day even though you may not want to. The Blizzard program taught me that working through all the long days, the long weekends, helped me balance high school and soccer so when I transitioned to university I had a grasp on it.”

 

Joe Parolini Turns Over some Balls to On The Ball Report

Casella / Wagner College

One might think that American college soccer coaches devote just a few months of the year to their programs during the brief fall playing season, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re Phil Casella, head coach of the Women’s soccer program at Wagner College in New York, the off-season is just as important and almost as intensive as the playing season.

“My job during the spring (season) is more laid back,” Casella said in an interview from his school office on Staten Island, NY. “We don’t play as many games and don’t travel as far. Our weekends are off, but we still train three to four times a week both on the field and in the weight room. We send out our conditioning and weight packets to the players in May. They have to follow the program over the next ten weeks leading up to August 1^st. A lot depends on them making sure that they’re doing their job over the summer. I believe the development of the individual and the team is most important, creating a good conditioning and fitness base prior to them going home for summer break so all they have to do is maintain that level.”

Casella expects his players to return to school from the summer break in top shape so they can hit the ground running for pre-season training in August.

“We get about 2 weeks of pre-season,” Casella stated. “There are days we do double sessions. But once we start the season we go on our regular routine where we train once a day. Our only off day is Monday until November. That’s the makeup of their first semester here. With the help of our academic advisers, we schedule our players’ class schedules around that.”

When he’s not coaching, Casella is looking ahead to the future and working on his team’s playing schedules for upcoming seasons.

“I usually work on my schedules about two or three years in advance,” Casella admitted. “The ’24 & ’25 schedules are already complete. We’re just waiting for the conference schedule but I make my non-conference schedule. In a couple of months, I might even start working on my 2026 schedule.”

Recruitment is another vital role in his job and Casella is often seen scouting talent throughout the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania) at various fall and winter showcases and tournaments. That’s how he happened upon his newest recruit, Hailey Knapp from the Toronto Blizzard.

“I was fortunate enough that once the season was over, I got back on the recruiting trail,” Casella said. “I watched Joe’s team at the FC Delco showcase in November and that’s where I came across Hailey. It’s kind of late in the process, but you want to make sure she’s the right fit for not only ourselves, but for the player.”

”The first thing that came to my mind watching Hailey play was her mobility,” Casella said.  “I saw a kid who’s able to move and run and recover. Without a doubt, we need a player at the back for 2024 and, beyond that, can help us with our athleticism in the backline. I also know in terms of how Joe and his program operate, that they’re training almost every day. I think that’s the biggest transition for kids coming in from youth clubs or high school, you’re training every day here.”

Hailey was recruited, along with seven other players, for the 2024-25 season. When he first took over the team, Casella looked to bring in athletic players who could scale up the roster. Nowadays, he focuses more on positional needs.

“We’re at the point now where we’re definitely recruiting because one or two defenders are leaving and we need to fill those voids,” Casella admitted. “The same goes for the midfielders and forwards. Obviously the goal for recruiting the ’24 class was to make sure that we’re able to fill those voids. I think we’ve done that.”

While most of his recruits come from within the tri-state area, Casella often looks outside the region for exceptional players who can make an immediate impact.

“I’m definitely looking for a player who’s going to be impactful,” stated Casella. “Part of my recruiting strategy and what I’ve learned from all the coaches I’ve worked for, when you go outside the region, you want to make sure you’re going after players you have a tight connection with. I want to make sure there’s some connection with that coach or director of coaching at that club because then I know what type of athlete and player I’m going to get.

“I have my core values and I want my players to have the same values as I do and, especially when going out of region, academic and scholarship money is at play, so I definitely want a player who’s going to come in and be impactful right away.

Regardless of whether you’re in your first year or fourth year, Casella gives every one of his players a fair opportunity at making the team in pre-season.

“To me it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior,” Casella stated. “If we feel you can be impactful and you’re prepared and you’re performing over an upper classman, you’re going to get an opportunity.

“One of the goals since I took over this program is that it’s about family and unity and, with the players and parents at tailgates after home games, you can feel that vibe.”

Wagner reached its first ever NEC Championship game this past season and three of Casella’s players were named to the NEC All-Tournament team. He is laser-focused on what his objectives are for Wagner in 2024.

“Since day one I’ve had goals for this program,” Casella admitted.  “We achieved a lot of them this past season. The main goal we missed out on – we were one penalty kick away from a NCAA tournament. Everyone knows what this program and what these players are capable of doing.  Our goal is nothing short of getting back to that same position and, hopefully, this time winning a conference championship.”

Max Colucci

When scouting youth players, what key physical attributes are you looking for?

A goalkeeper’s physical build is fundamental. If we look at the top level of international leagues, goalkeepers are generally quite tall, most are at least 1,90m (6 feet, 3 inches). I read a study recently that quoted a statistic from the World Cup, the average height was 1,94, and that’s from several years ago. Obviously, body types have changed. Today, you find strikers like Lukaku and Dzeko, who are physically imposing players so goalkeepers must also be strong enough physically to compete against those types of forwards.

From a physical point of view, goalkeepers must achieve a level of excellence superior to many other players from a muscular-skeletal standpoint as well as psychological. Goalkeepers must be well-oiled machines. The closer you are to perfection, the more elite a player you can become. Your physical build is important. I call it the motor of an athlete. The technical aspects, at least until 30 years of age, a good goalkeeper trainer can shape, especially when you have strong personalities who are capable of reaching high levels of play. The physical build is one of the principal aspects a scout must analyze to determine someone’s suitability to play professionally.

In your training sessions with goalkeepers, how much time do you devote to the mental preparation in relation to the physical work?

I’m of the opinion that the mental approach is an innate quality. You can improve something, you can develop something that you already intrinsically possess, but to create from scratch a psychological capacity to reach certain levels, I don’t think is possible. 

This is another attitude that is evaluated even at a younger age, in adolescence, because it is an aspect that transpires from the youth. For an older player, performing at a certain level, in front of large crowds, to make a mistake, the reaction is fundamental but I repeat, that is an aspect where a coach can do very little. It must be part of your natural ability.

As most other positions on a team, the GK position has evolved over the years. What is the most critical skill a GK must possess in order to be considered for selection by a scout?

It is obvious that the role of the goalkeeper has changed in the past decade or more. The principal structure of the role is the same, but an element has been added. Today, a goalkeeper is more involved in the construction of play. Often a goalkeeper is called upon in the construction of play as an option in case you have to escape a high press.

I’m of the opinion that we’re still talking about goalkeepers so we can’t lose sight of the fact that he needs to know how to save. He must command his space. A goalkeeper can be strong in the air and defend his goal well, but if he doesn’t have the added aspect of being strong with his feet, he may not reach the highest levels of competition. That is, until the role changes again. I’m already noticing some coaches who are going back. You can’t always play out of the back because it often creates risks. All of the components of the backline, including the goalkeeper, have to have certain qualities. Playing so close to goal invites mistakes, which can cost you.

Today, we talk a lot about defending the goal, but I believe an aspect that is undervalued is aerial ability. I think it’s an element that can make a big difference. A goalkeeper that dominates his goal area, I believe, can save up to 30-40% of scoring chances. I put this quality higher than footwork.   

On The Ball Report interviews Mark McKoy, Blizzard Strength & Conditioning Coach at the 360 Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Toronto, Canada.

 

On The Ball Report interviews Christina Romanelli, Junior Blizzard Technical Director at the 360 Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Toronto, Canada.

Chiara’s story

Having dealt with plenty of adversity so far through her young playing career, Blizzard alumnus Chiara Canini reflected on the past year, her first season at Chicago State University, as a person mature beyond her years would.

“I was fighting for a position but I learned you can’t control everyone else,” she stated. “It was a challenging season but I took it as a self-improvement year.”

Chiara played over 800 minutes for the Cougars in 2023, starting seven of 15 games, including five straight appearances in the starting XI, before she was injured and sat out the rest of the season. The team only won four of 16 games. But she will be better prepared for the challenges in her junior year because of what she has overcome to get to this stage.

Chiara’s Blizzard story began six years ago when she was scouted by Head Coach Joe Parolini in a friendly match while she was playing for Bolton Wanderers.

“He really liked me and came to one of my practices,” Chiara remembers. “I grew up at Bolton and didn’t want to leave but I was encouraged to join the Blizzard because I wasn’t being exposed to a high enough competition. I felt that I’d rather be the worst one on a good team and improve, than the best player on a bad team and not have anywhere to go.”

Chiara says she was attracted not only by the competition but also by the skill level at the Blizzard Academy.

“I remember my first session was a lot of ball work and scrimmaging,” she recalls.  “Everything was very intense but, in all that, you feel that reassurance that I’m doing this for a reason. Our 02/03 age group was very hard-working because we all knew what it took to get to where we wanted.”

A natural defender, Chiara is a player that has shown a lot of versatility, having performed in a variety of roles from centre back to wing back to striker.

“I came to the team as a centre back,” Chiara stated. “With my speed, Joe would occasionally put me up top as a winger or striker. I’m left footed so I am comfortable playing anywhere on that side. I love game time so wherever you put me, I’ll figure it out.”

During her three years with the Blizzard program, Chiara’s development stalled at times, due to a knee injury and the Covid breakout. In her graduating year, the recruitment process was not what she expected, and she settled for Garden City, a Junior College in Kansas.     

“Joe knew JUCO wasn’t what I wanted but I made the most of it,” Chiara explained. “There were a lot of international players so you felt more comfortable. I met people from all over the world. Those were the positives.

“On the negative side, I didn’t get along with the coaching style,” she admitted. “The emphasis was on clearances. I’m very much a give and go player and I felt myself decline because I wasn’t learning much.”

That and the extreme heat made for a difficult transition to collegiate soccer.

“I’ve never experienced heat like that. It was almost 40 degrees Celsius in training. It was good for conditioning though.”

One of the other positives from that JUCO year was the fact that Chiara also ran track and it helped her focus on her speed training. She competed in five events, including the 200 metres, team relays and long jump.

“The track coach selected me and he gave me the experience that I was lacking,” she recalled. “I liked it for the extra fitness during soccer’s off season.”

Following her freshman season, Chiara was looking for a transfer to a school with a higher level of competition and, after a recruiting process that included three colleges, she chose Chicago State University.

“I talked to Chicago State a few times,” Chiara admitted. “It wasn’t the highest ranked team but they wanted me the most of the schools that recruited me and I did like the coach at the time.”

However, just before pre-season arrived, Chiara was dealt another setback.

“When I got there, a coaching change happened,” she recalled. “Players were given the option to leave and it did cross my mind but my options were limited so I stayed. It was easier for me to adapt because I was new to the team.”

Despite the difficult season she endured, Chiara is happy with the choice she made. “We play a European style,” she confirmed. “It’s simple, quick ball movement. I was competing for my position with a senior so I learned to fight for my spot.”

At Chicago State, Chiara is majoring in medical sciences, specifically Kinesiology and Physical Therapy.

“I really like Physical therapy, maybe because I’ve been injured so often,” she laughed. “I learned so much during my knee injury, especially how to exercise and rehab. I’ve always been interested in human function and movement. I’m a bit of an exercise freak and I like a challenge. I’m proud that I have a 4.0 GPA.”

After college, Chiara’s ambition is to play professionally, and she has a preference for Europe.

“I would love to turn pro but I want to stay realistic and humble,” she admitted. “Most female pros still have day jobs. I want to go to Italy because I’m half Italian. It would be amazing to live and play there. That’s my dream but I would also love to play in the U.S.”

To a young player joining the Blizzard academy, Chiara has one simple piece of advice.

“Just listen to what Joe tells you,” she insists. “Sometimes you have to read between the lines but he does have your best intentions at heart. The nice thing is that Joe will try to improve you and he’ll always back you up. It’s also important to work on yourself and improve. You learn that you have to be highly competitive and if you put out the best you have, you’ll get the best returns.”

That’s sage advice from a wise young person who has overcome adversity time and time again.

 

On The Ball Report interviews Joe Parolini at the 360 Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Toronto, Canada.

Hailey’s story

 

On a Saturday afternoon in mid-December during a regular weekend training session with the Toronto Blizzard Academy, Hailey Knapp was asked to speak to her Blizzard colleagues about the process of college recruitment and visiting a university campus. Little did she know that, during her talk, Blizzard Head Coach Joe Parolini would surprise her by having her read a text from Wagner College Head Coach Phil Casella offering her a full ride scholarship to the New York area school next fall.

Hailey expressed shock and delight at the same time when she read the text out loud, while her colleagues applauded her appreciatively. Hailey is just the latest in a long line of Blizzard Academy players who have graduated from the program to continue their playing careers at the collegiate level either in the United States or Canada.

Hailey’s experience in her college pursuit was not unlike many other Blizzard graduates who have visited multiple schools and entertained scholarship offers from various college coaches. Ultimately, each athlete will choose the path that’s right for them but it is important for both parents and players to understand the process and make a decision that has the best interests of the athlete at heart.

“The coaches and players were very comforting,” Hailey said of her visit to Wagner College, a liberal arts school on Staten Island, a borough of New York City. “I was able to get a perspective of what the players thought of the coach, the program and the school. The players took me on a tour of the athletic facility and the dorms. They talked about how you’re going to have to leave a day before to get to away games, so you have to be on top of your schooling.”

Even though she also considered the University of Michigan, Hailey said she preferred a smaller school because the class sizes would be smaller and she’d have more one on one time with her professors.

“They’re more understanding of the fact that you’re on the soccer team,” she said.

Hailey was also very complimentary of her coach who talked to her about what the program would offer.

“He’s a coach that likes if you work hard in training,” she stated. “He doesn’t care if you’re only a freshman, but if you’re better than a senior, you’re going to play. He also said what we’re doing (at the Blizzard) is beyond what other teams are doing. He said the biggest adjustment for freshmen is the training load. They train six days a week. In pre-season, you’ll train twice a day.”

Coach Casella told Hailey that, coming from the Blizzard program, she might actually find it easier with the fitness load because of how much the Blizzard group does during the week.

Hailey’s dad Herman was also very complimentary of the coach and the program at Wagner College.

“For me the most important thing was what the coach was going to be like,” Herman said.  “What was my daughter getting into? The key thing I liked was when he said ‘I want to be your mom and dad while you’re away’. There was an understanding that his door was always open to Hailey.”

Mr. Knapp was also impressed by the fact that what the Blizzard is doing made him feel more comfortable about sending Hailey to Wagner.

“We actually train more hours a week than they do,” Herman said. “My opinion is, while I was there, it made me feel good to hear right from the coaches and understand where my daughter would be going.”

Blizzard head coach Joe Parolini remarked that there are strict training rules in place at the American collegiate level.

“By law, NCAA players are only allowed to be on the field with the ball and the coach for four hours, that’s it,” Joe said. “Every other training session is fitness and weights.”

Mr. Knapp also said it was very important to keep Joe up to date on the player’s recruitment process.

“Every time Hailey or I talked to the coach, we relayed back to Joe what we talked about,” Herman stated. “It’s important to always keep Joe engaged.”

Hailey will continue training with the Blizzard through the winter and spring at their new 360 Soccer Centre training base before making the trip back to New York City to start her freshman year at Wagner College later this summer. Congratulations Hailey and good luck in the Big Apple!

Hailey has committed to Wagner College (NCAA Div. 1) in New York for 2024: https://wagner.edu/ | https://wagnerathletics.com/sports/womens-soccer