“I look crazy looking back on it now,” sophomore defender Zoe Markesini reminisced with a laugh, “I was just filled with so much joy.”
In an interview with The Daily Princetonian, Markesini reflected on what she considers a pivotal moment in her athletic career: after five years of rising through the ranks of Canada soccer, she finished a corner off the half-volley to give Canada a lead over France in her first game representing her country at the FIFA U-20 Women’s Soccer World Cup in Columbia.
She noted, “just anything I could do to contribute to the whole team’s effort meant a lot to me.”
Trading in her usual orange and black for a red and white uniform, Markesini dazzled for Canada after a stellar first-year season at Princeton, in which she started 13 of the team’s final 16 games. She took her game to yet another level as a sophomore, starting in 12 of her 13 appearances this season. Markesini’s success came as she anchored the Ivy League’s best defense that allowed a league-leading ten goals in regular season play, granting her a a second-team All-Ivy selection.
Growing up in Markham, Ontario, just outside of Toronto, soccer was always it for Markesini. While she dabbled in other sports, playing volleyball and basketball in elementary school, Markesini said that she never had time to seriously pursue them.
“Soccer was always kind of the forefront,” Markesini explained. “I was always very much committed to soccer.”
At the age of five, Markesini’s mom introduced her to soccer. She ended up “loving it” and went on to join a local team — coached by her best friend’s father — until the age of 13, before joining Ontario’s National Development Centre — a soccer development program that develops the top youth female athletes in each province.
Soon after, she would begin her career with Canada Soccer. She was first invited to a National Team training camp at the age of 15, but had to delay her involvement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The next kind of entrance point for the Canadian system was under 17, and that’s where I got to go in,” she explained.
She attended her first training camp in Mexico, finally making her debut for the National Team in 2021 at age 16. The next year, Markesini had the “incredible experience” of attending the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.
Her journey with Canada continued this past September. Markesini traveled with Canada to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, where she competed alongside Princeton teammate junior forward and midfielder Pietra Tordin — who was representing the United States.
Despite being away in Colombia, Markesini continued to stay engaged with her Princeton teammates.
“When she was away training with Canada and playing with Canada in the World Cup, she was consistently asking about the team,” head coach Sean Driscoll noted. While Markesini was excited to represent her country, “she was really conflicted about leaving [Princeton], because she loves our team so much.”
While Canada advanced beyond the group stage, they ultimately fell to Spain in the Round of 16. Markesini proved a permanent fixture on the team, starting all four games for Canada. In addition to her goal in their first game of the tournament, Markesini also attempted the most line breaks for Canada with 87 attempts. Her incisive passes successfully split through the opposition’s formation a staggering 48 times across Canada’s four tournament games.
Markesini realized that she wanted to play soccer in college starting in eighth grade — specifically in the United States.
“Soccer is really big in Canada, but from a collegiate aspect, it’s hard to compare [to the United States]. So, I definitely knew that I wanted to come and play division one soccer in the states somewhere.”
Markesini has long dreamt of going to a school like Princeton, although she said it felt like a pipe dream.
“I was always like, there’s no chance I would ever be able to do this, as cool as it would be,” she explained.
During her sophomore year of high school, she received an email from the Princeton women’s soccer team inviting her to come for a scouting visit. Following her visit, Markesini knew she wanted to attend Princeton.
“Honestly, as soon as I came here, I was like, yeah, the people, the place, coaches, I knew I wanted to be here.”
Driscoll tells a different story.
“She was looking at some really good schools,” he explained. “We fought to get her here.”
The fight to bring Markesini to Princeton has proved worthwhile. As a center back on the team, she has a unique capacity to hold the back line while initiating offensive opportunities by tactically moving the ball upfield.
“I like to create plays,” Markesini explained, “and use my vision at the back to start our attack.”
This season alone, Markesini has proved an instrumental playmaker, recording an impressive three direct assists as a defender. Despite only being a sophomore, Markesini has proved to be a winner, helping the Tigers conquer the Ivy League in her second season as a starter.
Driscoll elaborated on what Markesini brings to the team, citing her versatility as a center-back who can play on both the left and right, an uncommon quality.
“I’m sure if we wanted to play her other places in the field, she could play them. She just has that versatility about her.”
Part of Markesini’s strength as a player also comes from her instinct on the field.
“[Markesini] just knows the game in and out, and just really understands, like, where we should be in any given moment on the field, and what we should watch out for,” senior defender Ryann Brown told The Daily Princetonian.
Beyond her technical impact, Markesini’s presence in the locker room does not go unnoticed.
“She gives us a tremendous amount of calm, poise, and assurance,” coach Driscoll explained. “She’s done that since she arrived here.”
As a fellow center-back, Brown plays side by side with Markesini. Brown agreed, noting how there is never a worry when Markesini is on the ball.
“I just trust her with my whole heart,” Brown said. “She’s kind of my partner in crime … We have this, like, telepathic communication … on the field,” Brown added.
Telepathy aside, Markesini attributed her success with the Canadian National Team and with Princeton to consistency.
“[I] just make sure that I bring kind of the same kind of calmness … every day, in every game and every session.”
In addition to her success as a soccer player, teammates and coaches speak highly of her character beyond the stereotype of “Canadian nice.”
“She’s a tremendous soccer player, but she’s ten times that as a person,” Driscoll said. He then got a bit emotional, saying “I’m very proud of her — proud to be her coach. I’m proud she’s here.”
Driscoll elaborated, praising Markesini’s humble nature.
“[Markesini] just puts the team first in every aspect. It’s never about her. [S]he thrusts others into the spotlight.”
Looking ahead, Markesini hopes to follow in the footsteps of Angel City FC defender Madison Curry ’24 and other Princeton soccer alumni who have continued their soccer careers post-Princeton.
“[It’s] always been a dream of mine [to play professionally] after my college career … and Princeton alone has so many, so many pros,” Markesini told the ‘Prince.’ “I’d love to play soccer after my four years here and continue on for as long as I can, because I really do love this sport.”
But for now, Markesini is focused on making the most of her time at Princeton and living in the moment.
“It’s just like, recognize where your feet are,” she explained.
For Markesini, that is at home in Princeton, and Tiger fans should feel lucky to witness where those feet take her.
Leila Eshaghpour-Silberman is a Sports contributor and contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’
Sports contributor Amrit Vignesh contributed reporting.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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