Since getting started in soccer at an early age, Alessia Di Nino has fashioned an impressive playing career on the pitch.
Di Nino, who was born and raised in Brantford, counts her family as a contributing factor to her love of the game, especially her father, Peter.
“When I was younger, my parents got me, and my brothers, into soccer. I was around four-years-old when I started in Timbit soccer [and] I remember my dad would always be willing to take me to the field, and he would always be giving me tips and tricks [and] just trying to help me improve,’ she said.
By Grade 9, Di Nino would make it onto the girls’ soccer team at St. John’s College.
“There were only two Grade 9 girls that made the team that year including me [and], the first thing I noticed was the physicality and the pace of the game. It was a lot different from my regional team…the girls were stronger, bigger and faster [and] it challenged and encouraged me to play harder, and stronger, [which helped me] get some playing time,” she said. “As I started fitting in a little bit more by Grade 10, I would then show the younger girls that it was important to push yourself to the limits [and] try your best to compete with all the older girls out there.”
However, Di Nino would also try other sports, which would help develop her soccer game.
“I started playing volleyball in grade nine [and] made the team…and found out that it really helped me with my confidence. I was new coming into the sport, so I knew that I had to work a little bit harder [and] try my best [while] always keeping my head up,” she noted. “That taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes and that they’re going to happen. Not everyone is going to be perfect at the sport, but I discovered that the more you practice, the more fun you’ll have playing and that you will get better.”
Di Nino would find success early on with the St. John’s College soccer team dominating the Athletic Association of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk (AABHN.)
“When I was in Grade 9, we were a really confident team and won a lot but we ended up losing in the CWOSSA semifinals. It was really hard for us, because we knew that we had a great team and that we knew we should have won it…we just made some mistakes [and] some players were injured…so, the loss was definitely upsetting. [During my] tenth and 11th grades, we still had very good teams, but again, we had some disappointing finishes, but honestly, the experience of meeting new girls and being on a part of this team was really great,” Di Nino said.
Along with high school soccer, Di Nino had a hectic schedule playing for a league as well.
“I played for Paris FC, and then we switched to Hamilton United. And at that same time, some of my teammates and I [from St. John’s College] would be coming straight after a 4 pm game [to] soccer practice for Hamilton United…so it was very busy during the high school soccer season [and] has been very challenging to balance both teams,” she said.
John Butler, who has coached Di Nino at Paris FC and Hamilton United, discussed her strong command of the game.
“Alessia is a game changer. She has that ‘IT’ factor as I call it; when our game was not progressing [enough], I would put [her] in and the game’s [dynamic] would completely change. Teams would then have to adjust to a more attacking style as a result, “Butler explained. “She has progressed at each level she has played in [and] once challenged, she pushes her skill, speed and team play to a higher level.”
Di Nino, however, counts coach Butler as a very important part of her development as a player.
“I joined coach Butler’s team when I was going into grade eight… he was a really great coach [and] he really developed my passion for the sport. I really enjoyed going to practices [and] games. He made everything entertaining and more fun to be here. And I learned so much from him. He brought in so many different coaches for us as well. And our teams learned a lot more skills during that time,” said Di Nino.
However, one of the highlights of Di Nino’s career was being recruited to a team that would compete in Italy at the Lazio Cup Tournament, which helped her strengthen her passion for the game.
“When I was 16, a coach reached out to coach Butler after a tournament in Guelph, and he asked if I would be interested in traveling to Italy with a team that he scouted and selected several different players from our league for. The team competed in about five games, playing against different U-20 club teams like Lazio, Roma Frozinone, and Napoli,” recalled Di Nino. “It was a really great experience [where] it really developed my passion for soccer and made me realize this is something that I can do. I was also encouraged because I won game MVP against Lazio [and] scored over five goals during the tournament. The overall experience and being selected to go just made me gain more confidence in myself and my abilities.”
Di Nino who has been balancing between her school team and league play, started a bit late in the recruitment process.
“I started in Grade 11, and normally people start a little bit earlier, but I started gathering my film, [and] creating a video then. I think what was challenging for me was realizing how much time you have to put into it…reaching out to coaches, sending emails [and] putting your video together. And it’s about being patient, because not every coach is going to respond to you right away and not every coach is going to be interested,” she explained. “I had to persevere and just keep reaching back to coaches and following up with them. It was honestly a very long process, and you have to keep putting yourself out there sending videos out, [and] going to different tournaments [and] showcases to get noticed.”
Di Nino has also had a lot of support from her two brothers over the years.
“Both my brothers have been encouraging; Peter was been very supportive and Marco, who’s currently in his second year at Laurier and is on the football team there, has helped me along the whole recruiting process…encouraging me [and] helping me talk to coaches,” she said.
Di Nino, who has recently accepted a scholarship from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, has looked at a career as an orthodontist or dentist, however continues to maintain a focused outlook when it comes to continuing her soccer journey.
“Right now, I am looking at how I do during university [and] if I still really enjoy playing soccer that much, I would be looking to pursue something more,” she said.
Nevertheless, Butler believes that Di Nino will be an asset to her team.
“Her coaches and teammates can expect an impact player that will lead by her work ethic and high level of skill. Alessia has a natural ability to change the game and has done that at each level [and] has always been well liked and respected by her teammates and coaches and I see that being the same…at the collegiate level as well,” said Butler.
