Victoria Correa-Parsons.
It's going to be a busy summer for Cooksville's Victoria Correa-Parsons who will travel to Switzerland to train at a soccer academy before coming back to the country to represent Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in August.
At first, Cooksville's Victoria Correa-Parsons had no interest in the game of soccer.
Back in Grade 3, her best friend was a big fan of the 'beautiful game' so Correa-Parsons would tag along at recess and watch. One day, she was asked to play net.
The rest, as they say, is history.
"I wasn't even sure what I was doing when they first put me in," said the 17-year-old. "But, when I made a save, everyone cheered and I thought 'Hey, I like this."
Soon afterwards she began taking the sport seriously, training with the Red Devils Academy. She eventually joined the Dixie Soccer Club and currently plays with the Gladiators under-17 squad.
She's represented the province on the under-14, under-15 and under-16 Ontario teams. She was recruited by the National Training Centre program, which is designed to identify and train elite athletes, and the Ontario Provincial Program.
Last year, Correa-Parsons was selected as one of the goalkeepers for the national under-17 women's team that participated in the CONCACAF qualifying rounds in Trinidad & Tobago. Although Correa-Parsons didn't see any game action, she soaked up the experience and training that comes with being a member of the national team.
Recently, the teenager found out she has been accepted into the academy team program with FC Neunkirch in Switzerland. She leaves on Sunday for a week-long orientation trip.
"I'm still kind of shocked and the opportunity is unbelievable," she said. "I'm a little nervous but I'll be staying with a family while I'm there.
"Technically, I'm thinking (the players and training is) probably pretty good," she continued. "I hope to learn some of the technical aspects of the game while coming back a better player."
Correa-Parsons will return from her trip to participate in the Canada Summer Games, being held Aug. 15-29 in Prince Edward Island. As a starter, she said her goal is to "win the whole thing."
Following the Games, it's back to Switzerland to continue her training until June of next year. And, after that, she'll head to the University of Michigan to study and play soccer.
"Basically, I love soccer. I love competing and fighting for what I want," she said.
cclay@mississauga.net