Woodbridge soccer star heading to Princeton

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 21, 2016
By Michael Hayakawa

When Natalie Grossi was in elementary school, she had an opportunity to visit Princeton University along with the rest of her rep soccer teammates and while there, enjoyed her time on their campus.

At that time though, the Woodbridge resident thought the odds of some day becoming a part of their student population and the Ivy League culture was just a remote possibility.

Now 17 years of age, the Grade 12 St. Elizabeth Catholic High School student and goalkeeper with the Bradford Eagles club that captured the Under-18 national championship and Ontario Cup Under-17  last season will be living that dream after receiving a financial package to attend the prestigious Princeton, N.J.-based school and play for their women’s soccer team starting this fall.

“I’m honoured to be going to a prestigious school like Princeton,” said Grossi, who is also president of St. Elizabeth Catholic High School’s student council and captained their varsity girls’ soccer and volleyball teams. “It is unreal that I have been given the opportunity to to study at one of the greatest institutions in the world, and I am thankful to say the least.”

Citing she began to make contact with the Princeton University coaches during the summer of her Grade 10 year, Grossi acknowledged the process in being identified as a student-athlete at their school was a long process.

While being a good player was a start, she was quick to point out there was still a matter of meeting specific academic requirements, grades, test scores and application criteria as Princeton, being an Ivy League school, does not offer athletic scholarships.

It could have been easy for Grossi to ignore Princeton as she turned down opportunities to receive full athletic scholarships from other universities in the United States.

“Those other schools weren’t the right fit for me,” she recalled. “I knew I wanted to play (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division One soccer in the U.S., but at the same time my parents and I did not want to compromise my education.

“Rather I used soccer as a means of attending an Ivy League school.

“Princeton has one of the best financial aid systems that will help pay for my education in the place of an athletic scholarship that I would receive if I had chosen to go to another school.”

In being adept at her position on the soccer pitch, Grossi said it was born rather by accident.

Making her debut in the game when she was four years of age through the encouragement of her older brother Matthew and parents Rob and Darlene, Grossi began her budding career as a forward.

It was while playing at the rep level though when Grossi recalled one day when her team was in dire need of a goalkeeper.

That was when she stepped to the front to volunteer her services.

Since that time Grossi hasn’t looked back at that decision as she parlayed that opportunity to play that position for the provincial team in 2012 along with helping Team Ontario win a national title in 2013 and be part of the regional Excel program in 2014 and 2015.

“I felt like I had more control over the game,” she explained in deciding to become a goalkeeper. “After a couple of years of splitting the keeper responsibilities with another player, I decided the keeper position was the right fit for me.

“That choice has allowed me to play soccer at a highly competitive level.”

In reflecting on her ascent up the competitive ladder, Grossi was quick to note there were a number of people along the way who were influential.

Not just in good times but even during low moments when she acknowledged there were periods of self-doubt.

“The biggest thing I contribute to my success is the support system around me,” she said. “My friends and family have been there every step of the way. I would not be where I am today without my parents, they were my taxi drivers for the countless games, practices and tournaments not to mention the road trips to the U.S. for showcases and visits to college campuses.

“There was a time that I did not believe I would be able to play Division One soccer, however as cheesy as it may sound my parents believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”

Currently undecided in what she wants to major in when attending Princeton, Grossi is scheduled to meet with their course co-ordinators during the school’s open house for freshmen in April to assist in her deciding what academic direction she might take.

At the present time, she has some interest in studying architecture and or engineering.

Upon setting foot on the Princeton, N.J.-based campus this fall, Grossi would like nothing better than to make an impact with their soccer team.

“Currently my goals for soccer include winning the Ivy League conference title and to be successful in the NCAA tournament,” she said.

As for the long term, Grossi has not set any schedule.

For now, she intends to take things one day at a time.

“And just enjoy the journey.”