Soccer - M | 8/14/2016 10:29:00 PM
BURNABY, BC –
Marcello Polisi, captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps U-18 team and long-time member of its residency program, has signed with Simon Fraser University and will join the Clan immediately, men's soccer head coach
Clint Schneider announced today.
Polisi, who was challenging for a roster spot with Whitecaps FC2, turned down many NCAA Division 1 offers to play for Canada's NCAA team. Polisi is expected to have an immediate impact, playing significant minutes, and bolstering the Clan's push for a Great Northwest Athletic Conference title and berth in the NCAA tournament.
Polisi, who played his youth soccer with Coquitlam-Metro Ford, is enrolled at SFU and will join the Clan as training camp opens this week on Burnaby Mountain. The Clan plays an exhibition game against UBC on August 19. The team then embarks on a series of non-conference games in California and Hawaii before opening its conference schedule in mid-September.
The 5-foot-10 Polisi is a ball-playing defensive midfielder who is confident and composed on the pitch. He excels at getting the ball and begining the build-up for his team. The Coquitlam native will complement attacking midfielders and 2015 GNAC First Team All-Conference players
Adam Jones,
Kyle Jones and
Mamadi Camara, and mid-field captain Ryan Dhillion, a medical redshirt in 2015.
"Marcello's signing gives us another important piece to what I consider one of the best midfield groups in the NCAA," said Schneider.
"I love to create chances for my teammates but I am also very good at protecting my four," said Polisi. "I win second balls, and I am a very strong physical presence."
In addition to playing within the Whitecaps residency program, Polisi was called up to the Canadian National U-15 Team for the Copa Mexico de Naciones Sub-15, a boys' U-15 tournament in Ciudad de Mexico in 2012, and he had trials with the Belgian Pro League club Royal Standard de Liège's youth system.
"My coaching staff worked very hard identifying Marcello as a player and building a strong relationship with him and his family," said Schneider. "He has all the qualities in a footballer we are looking for and his personality fits our team's culture."
"I chose to come to SFU over D1 schools because they have a phenomenal academic reputation, and an exceptional soccer program," explained Polisi. "The team this year is looking very strong, and our goal is to win a national championship."
Marcello is the last player in a recruiting class that Schneider envisions winning a lot of games at SFU. Schneider worked hard to find players who can come in and play significant minutes for the Clan right away.
"It takes quality depth throughout a college team to win championships and I think we have that," said Schneider.
SFU has eight returning starters and 11 letter winners returning from the team that finished with a 10-3-4 overall record in 2015 and was second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at 9-2-3. In addition, all seven GNAC conference selections from a year ago are returning to the Clan, including goalkeeper
Brandon Watson who did not concede a goal at home during the 2015 season, setting high expectations for the team.
Since joining NCAA, the Clan has two Final Four appearances in the national championship tournament (2012 and 2013) and in 2011, the Clan was unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the NCAA national polls but was ineligible for post-season play.
Top Returners: Name (Yr., Pos, Ht, Post-Season Honors)
Adam Jones (Jr., MF, 5-7, GNAC 1st Team, GNAC Freshman of Year, All-Region 2nd Team, 8G, 6A, 22Pts)
Mamadi Camara (So., MF, 6-3, GNAC 1st Team, 5G, 1A, 11Pts)
Kyle Jones (So., MF, 5-5, GNAC 1st Team, 4G, 3A, 11Pts)
Brandon Watson (Sr., GK, 6-1, GNAC 2nd Team, 0.690 GAA,.786 SV%, 10 shutouts)
Pascal Schmidt (Jr., D, 6-3, GNAC Newcomer of Year )
Ryan Dhillon (Sr., MF, 5-10, missed 2015 due to injury; 4G, 6A, 14Pts in 2014; only remaining player from SFU 2012 Final Four team)
Magnus Kristensen (Jr., D, 6-3, missed 2015 due to injury, GNAC 1st Team 2014)
--@SFUClan--
