Monday, June 14, 2021
BURNABY, B.C. – The Polisi brothers will be playing professional soccer on opposite coasts after senior captain and midfielder Marcello Polisi signed a professional contract with the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League.
"I think Halifax will be a great fit for me to establish myself in the professional game," Polisi said. "I will do everything I can for the club to help them win games the same way I did with SFU."
Earlier this year, Marcello's younger brother, Matteo Polisi, signed with the Pacific Football Club of the CPL, a club based out of Greater Victoria.
Marcello was GNAC Player of the Year and an NCAA Division II All-American as a freshman. He went on to be chosen to the GNAC All-Conference First Team in all three seasons. He was also a Second Team All-West Region selection in 2019, his last competitive season with SFU after COVID-19 forced SFU to opt out of the 2020 season. Polisi started all 49 matches that he played for SFU over three seasons, registering 6 goals and 7 assists as a defensive midfielder.
Polisi was preparing to return for a fourth season at SFU when Halifax FC head coach Stephen Hart presented Polisi with the opportunity to turn pro. Halifax FC was the third team to join the Canadian Premier League, which began play in 2019.
"I will miss the guys a lot. I made a lot of great friendships within our team and I wish the team the best," Polisi said. "I know they will have a very strong squad this year and have the ability to do very big things in the coming years.
"I have to thank Clint Schneider and Kevin Harmse for always pushing me and enabling me to grow as a footballer and as a person. They have done so much for me that I will forever be grateful for."
"We are very excited for Marcello and this next chapter in his footballing journey. He has been a very big piece to our success the last few years," Schneider said. "On one hand, we know that we are losing a very big piece to our team. On the other hand, we want to continue to be known as a football program where players can develop and use the program as a springboard for the next step."
Simon Fraser has a history of developing players and preparing them for the jump to professional soccer. During its years competing in the NAIA, SFU regularly placed players on Canadian national teams and in professional soccer, both domestically and overseas. Since joining the NCAA in 2010, eight players have gone on to play professional soccer.
"We will now have three players in the CPL next year and I think this is only the beginning," Schneider said. "I know a goal for our program is to have the biggest collegiate representation in the league and I think we are on the path to do it.
Simon Fraser is preparing to return to competitive play in the fall of 2021.