The Brock Badgers women's soccer team has added a pair of talented incoming players for the 2018-19 season.
 
Emily Cirone and Brianne DeSa, both from Pickering, have committed to Brock for the upcoming year.
 
Cirone is a multi-sport athlete with significant experience and achievements in soccer, ringette and cross country running. She played elite AAA ringette for 13 years and represented Ontario in the 2017 Canadian National Ringette Championships. As a soccer player, she played in the OWSL for Pickering Power Soccer Club before joining Markham Soccer Club in the OPDL. She was also a call-up for the Durham United League One team in 2017.
 
"I chose Brock University academically and specifically the Goodman School of Business because of its growing reputation, diversity of programs offered and the student-to-professor ratio," Cirone said.
 
Badgers head coach Kevin Trethowan is delighted Emily chose Brock.
 
"I've seen Emily play a few times and she definitely adds value to our program both on and off the field," he said. "She's a solid full back who has experience playing the highest level of youth soccer in Ontario. Players who come through the OPDL stream are already accustomed to the physical demands and time commitment required to play at the highest level. It certainly makes the transition into university soccer a little easier."
 
Cirone said Brock was also an easy choice when it came to athletics.
 
"Brock is dedicated to advancing its athletic programs and working together with its student athletes," she said. "The coaching staff is very knowledgeable, approachable and dedicated to pushing each and every player to their full potential. I am very excited to be a part of the women's soccer team and being able to contribute to the program's goals and its success.
"Along with the great coaching staff, the team is very welcoming. I feel that this program will help me develop not only as an athlete but also on my academic journey."
 
Another confirmed recruit for the upcoming year is centre midfielder, DeSa, a teammate of Cirone's at Markham Soccer Club. DeSa was recently called up to the Guyanese national team and scored a goal in their recent Women's World Cup qualifiers.
 
"I saw Brianne play for the first time in an exhibition game for us and I was impressed by how naturally she fitted in with the team," Trethowan said. "Her cousin, Kristen Bettencourt, played for me last year in my first season as head coach and you can see that they have very similar styles of play. The way they both move with and without the ball is the same."
 
Trethowan said DeSa "is an extremely talented player and was wanted by many universities."
"I am delighted that she chose Brock."
For her, selecting a university wasn't an easy process.
 
DeSa said Brock interested her more for academics than athletics, but it didn't take her long to be won over.
 
"I was trying to find a school that gave me both. The moment I set my eyes on the campus, I knew it was the school for me," she said. "I never heard my cousin Kristen say anything negative about her experience. She really helped me with my decision due to her positive experience academically and athletically. Kristen was a happy Badger and made me feel that I would be one too."
 
DeSa said the moment she stepped onto Brock's home field wearing her No. 4 jersey, the rest of the team made her feel welcome and the coaching staff treated her as if she was one of their own. It was enough to convince her that Brock is where she wanted to be.
 
The Badgers women's soccer team opens its season at home against Waterloo on Friday, Aug. 24. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.