In the cutthroat world of college athletics, it is quite rare for an athlete to earn significant playing time during their freshman year. Many coaches view that first season as an opportunity to get a player acclimated to the system while further developing their skill set, setting them up to take on a larger role later in their careers.
In exceptional cases, however, a young player arrives on campus and proves they are ready to lead from day one–like freshman center back Jane Brooks for Marist women’s soccer.
Brooks embarked on an ambitious journey to Marist College, traveling over 3,000 miles to Poughkeepsie from her hometown in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to pursue her college soccer dreams.
“It wasn’t very common for players to come to the States and go D1 from Vancouver,” said Brooks. “It was always a goal of mine, so I started looking for opportunities.”
Brooks caught the attention of second-year head coach Nicole Pacapelli, who was looking to put her stamp on the Marist women’s soccer program. Pacapelli’s first official recruiting class sets the tone for the identity and culture she is trying to build for the program, both on and off the field, and Brooks fits the bill.
“When Jane first stepped on campus for her visit, she had this mature leadership about her that I valued a lot. I loved that right away,” said Pacapelli. “She was good in the air, consistent with both feet, she can defend one-on-one and her positioning was really good.”
As the coaching staff zeroed in on Brooks as a priority target, Brooks subsequently zeroed in on Marist College as her preferred destination in the recruiting process.
“I came out to New York to visit some schools and while I was here, I reached out and asked if I could come visit the campus,” said Brooks. “I heard the school had a good reputation academically, and that there was a good soccer program they were building up. Once I got on campus, I automatically loved it, so we kept in touch and everything worked out pretty quickly.”
Before coming to Marist, Brooks was a member of Altitude FC– a semi-professional soccer club in her hometown of Vancouver. She credits the experience of playing against premier talent as preparing her for collegiate soccer.
After arriving on campus, it didn’t take long for Brooks to gain the respect of her coaches and teammates. Her impressive first offseason led to Coach Pacapelli naming her as the starting center back going into her freshman year.
“From both a leadership standpoint and a playing standpoint, I have no doubts about her,” said Pacapelli. “If Jane’s trajectory continues the way we would like it to, she can compete to be a special leader and defender here over the next few years.”
In an impressive display of endurance, Brooks played every single minute through the first seven games of the Red Foxes’ season. She takes a lot of pride in the stamina that she has developed throughout her career. Her training regimen included fitness training five times a week to prepare for the season.
Brooks understands how special of an opportunity it is to be a leader for the Red Foxes so early in her career, and she is not taking it for granted.
“I worked so hard to get here, so knowing that it paid off means a lot. Knowing that my older teammates and coaches trust me means a lot as a freshman,” said Brooks. “They don’t have to respect me like that, but the fact that they do, I appreciate that.”
Having served as a team captain previously in her soccer career, Brooks’ leadership qualities have transferred well to Marist and positioned her to fulfill the center-back role for the Red Foxes.
“At the center back position, the communication, leadership and confidence that she showed is half the battle to earning a position like that,” said Pacapelli. “It was evident to me that she stood out in that way. She came in and did a great job and earned that trust.”
Leaving her friends and family in Vancouver to pursue college soccer in the United States was an ambitious task for Brooks, but the strong support system provided by her family has enabled her to adapt to the challenge.
“I’ve always relied on my parents. When I was getting ready for fitness training and had to complete the fitness packets, my dad did it with me so I didn’t have to do it alone, which helped me a lot,” said Brooks. “My mom helps me with the mental side. She’s always been there for me.”
Even from 3,000 miles away, the Brooks family remains strong supporters of Jane and the Red Foxes. Their unwavering support has become a vital source of motivation for Jane this season.
“They’ve been watching every single game from home and been such a big support system for me,” said Brooks. “Every single game they’re in their gear at home with the live stream going. Their support means so much to me.”
Brooks’ journey from Vancouver to Poughkeepsie is a testament to her dedication and passion for the sport. Her leadership has been impactful for the program early in her career, and with Brooks anchoring the defense, the Red Foxes have a bright future ahead.
“Of course, the biggest goal is to win a MAAC Championship, that’s always the goal,” said Brooks. “I can see a lot of progress happening, even just from the preseason to now, our team chemistry has grown so much. I’m excited to see how the program develops over the next few years.”
Edited by Michael Burns and Marley Pope
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
Photos from Jaylen Rizzo and Marist Athletics
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