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.”