Alexa makes up her mind
Alexa why did you choose Medaille University in Buffalo to pursue your post secondary soccer career?
“I went for a visit there at the same time I was still looking at other schools and it just felt like Medaille was the best fit,” said Saint Paul’s Alexa Abbruscato, at a signing ceremony at her school Tuesday.
The visit happened in September and the 17-year-old Niagara Falls resident ended up comparing her tour of Medaille with an earlier visit to Gannon.
“It came down to those two and at the end of the day I just thought that Medaille had really good people there, the coach was really nice and overall, the community, the team and the small school kind of won it over,” she said. “It was a combination of things.”
Abbruscato is looking forward to her freshman season with the NCAA Division 3 school.
“I want to make an impact on the team. It is a younger team and they are building it up. I want to go in strong and show them what I’ve got.”
Abbruscato is planning to study concurrent education at Medaille with a goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.
Her work has already started.
“It is getting fit and getting ready and stronger for the team.”
She verbally committed to the school earlier and signed her letter of intent Tuesday.
“It feels like the next step. It is showing me where my future is headed.”
With Medaille located in Buffalo, it is a perfect landing spot.
“I know my family can drive up whenever because it is only 40 minutes away. They can come watch all my home games.”
She feels her game has progressed a lot in the past few seasons.
“I feel I have gotten a lot better from playing with the OPDL (Ontario Provincial Development League) team because we trained three to four times a week,” the former Niagara FC player said. “I got stronger in my touch and my ball (handling) ability is better. What I need to work on is building more muscle so I am not getting pushed off the ball. I am a little bit smaller.”
The striker describes herself as fast and tricky.
“I don’t stick to the basic moves. I like to change it up but I am strong on the ball because the defenders are coming at you hard. It’s also using your mind and knowing what the defender is going to do next.”
The Grade 12 student at Saint Paul started playing soccer with the Niagara Falls Titans and suited up there until she was 15 and joined the Niagara regional soccer program in Welland. Last year she played in the Ontario Provincial Development League with Niagara FC.
“I went back to the regional team for my last year because all my friends are there and I wanted to have a fun year for my last year.”
Soccer has always been a big part of her life.
“My whole family is a soccer family. My dad (Joe) was involved with the club and we did camps every single summer. It growing up in that environment and I have an Italian background so at family events we would always play soccer. It has always been in my life and I really gravitated to it.”
Her uncle, Steve Abbruscato, has coached her at school and in club ball and he’s thrilled for his niece.
“Alexa is a very good player. She is skillful, strong with the ball, quick and has a really, really good shot,” he said. “I am so proud of her for getting this scholarship and I have full confidence she is going to do very well at Medaille. It is well-deserved because she has worked hard the last seven or eight years.”
