New head coach Zachary Wilson has bolstered the Brock Badgers women's soccer team with the signing of five high school recruits.
The Badgers welcomed the additions of Lexie Foster, Maya Genest, Rachel Kane, Dafni Papasotiriou and Isabella Proud on Monday, June 9.
"We're excited to officially welcome our 2025 recruiting class to Brock women's soccer, said head coach Zachary Wilson. "This group brings a strong blend of technical ability, versatility, and the kind of mentality we value as a program.
Foster, a five-foot-five striker from Ancaster, Ont., has played club soccer with Hamilton United most recently and the Ancaster Legacy Soccer Club.
"Lexie is a forward who loves to score goals and thrives in the final third," Wilson said. "She brings the right character and attitude we're looking for, and her work rate and passion for the game will make her a great fit for our environment."
In the summer of 2024, she competed in League1 Ontario under-20 division, playing in four games for Hamilton United.
Foster also had the opportunity to travel two years ago with her U16 club team to Lisbon, Portugal to play in the IberCup, one of the largest international youth soccer tournaments in the world.
"I chose to attend Brock University because I heard they have a really strong Sports Management program, which is the field I want to go into," Foster said. "It's one of the best programs of its kind in Canada, and I was impressed by how connected it is to the sports industry with lots of hands-on learning opportunities."
Look to boost play in the midfield, the Badgers have added Genest, a 5-3 Stoney Creek, Ont. native.
"Maya is a creative midfielder who's dynamic on the ball and dangerous when driving forward," Wilson said. "Her ability to break lines with the dribble and make things happen in tight spaces sets her apart."
Coming from the same Hamilton United club as Foster, Genest was part of the team that won the League Cup in 2023 and has been with that club for six years since her U13 season.
She also had the opportunity to compete with Foster on that same U16 Hamilton United team that traveled to the IberCup in Lisbon, Portgual.
"Brock has the best teaching program and a nice campus that is close to home," Genest said. "I'm excited to make connections through soccer, becoming a better player with hard work and playing with older athletes and getting more competition."
Kane is a 5-6 centre back who is looking to boost the depth of the back line for the Badgers.
"Rachel is a true centre back with the ability to impact the game in multiple ways," Wilson said. "She's confident playing out of the back, has excellent range in distribution, and is an aerial presence in both boxes. She'll bring leadership and quality to our back line.
The Toronto native recently played for Alliance United in League1 Ontario League 2 and U20 divisions, gaining valuable experience.
With Markham City FC, Kane has been a member since 2022 and in 2024, won the 17U Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) title in a 1-0 battle against BVB IA Waterloo.
"I chose to attend Brock mainly because of how much I like the campus and the Sport Management program, and it's a great plus I get to play soccer," Foster said. "All of these seemed to make the decision very easy."
Papsotiriou is another incoming recruit who will help the back line as a 5-9 centre back/full-back from Toronto.
"Dafni is a solid and composed defender with the ability to play across the back line," Wilson said. "Her versatility, tactical awareness, and calmness under pressure make her a key addition to our defensive unit."
Starting at the age of nine, Papasotiriou played with Unionville Milliken Soccer Club (SC) until her 16 year season.
In her last year of OPDL, she played for PIckering FC and is currently playing for the League 1 U20 reserve team.
"The Medical Sciences (Honours) program seemed like a perfect fit for me when I was looking into universities and the programs offered," Papastoiriou said. "It's specialised enough, which will help me get into a world of healthcare, while still providing me with diversity in what path I choose to take within the world of health after my undergraduate degree."
The final recruit the Badgers signed for 2025 is Proud is a 5-8 winger/full-back who has played her club soccer career in Guelph, Ont.
"Isabella is a hard-working, versatile player who competes every minute she's on the field," Wilson said. "Whether out wide or in the back line, she's tough to play against and brings a high level of intensity and effort to everything she does."
With the Gryphons Academy, Proud played in the West Region Soccer League from 2019-2024 and on the showcase team in 2024 where they won the North Mississauga Premiere and Ottawa Champions showcase events.
As a multi-sport athlete, she was a champion in the 4x100 event at the District 10 and Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (CWOSSA) Track and Field Championships.
"I really enjoyed the atmosphere when I trained with the team as well as the amazing Bachelor of Business Administration (Co-op) program," Proud said. "I was appreciative of the way the girls supported each other during the visit and the way the girls supported other athletic teams as a group."
"Each of these players has demonstrated a commitment to growth, a competitive edge, and the character that aligns with our culture," Wilson added. "We believe this class will add immediate value on and off the field as we continue to push the program forward."
Wilson and the women's soccer team are looking to make their way back to the OUA playoffs after missing out on the postseason last season.
