two pg 2 11-22-23
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caption, page 3:
Signing
Kelvin Da Costa, left, and Rebecca Nazer sign their National Letters of Intent. Da Costa will play soccer for Syracuse University and Nazer has committed to Florida Southern to play. Photo by Marc Allard.
Two seniors
sign their NLIs
It’s the dream of just about every student-athlete.
In the senior year of high school, sit behind a table, surrounded by family, teammates, classmates and friends and sign a National Letter of Intent.
That dream came true for two members of the Woodstock Academy athletic community on Tuesday.
Senior Kelvin Da Costa, a member of the prep 1 soccer team, officially committed to play Division I soccer for Syracuse University.
Girls’ soccer keeper Rebecca Nazer signed on the dotted line to play for Div. II Florida Southern in Lakeland.
“Very happy,” said a beaming Nazer.
But that happiness was not only due to being able to play soccer at the next level.
“At the same time of getting a chance to play Div. II soccer, I will be majoring in marine biology which is the major that I have wanted to do since I was a little kid,” Nazer said.
Da Costa was born in Mozambique where his parents still reside.
So Tuesday was an event that he will remember.
“It was a special moment for me and my family. I just want to thank my teammates, coaches, friends, for getting me to the point where I needed to be and for making me a better soccer player and person,” Da Costa said of his
But New York is familiar ground for Da Costa as he spent much of his growing years in Queens, N.Y.
Growing up in New York, he felt Syracuse fit his personality.
It’s also a school for quality soccer.
The Orangemen have won four Div. I national titles including the most recent one in 2022.
“It’s a lot of pressure (to have committed to the defending National Champions), but, honestly, I don’t feel it. I feel like I can go there, make a good impact and help the team and school move forward,” Da Costa said.
The program has also made him feel comfortable in that regard.
While Da Costa is heading a little closer back to a familiar environment in New York, Nazer is leaving the comfort of home.
“I’ve always kind of been around Woodstock and I want to go out and see new things and figure out who I am as a person,” Nazer said.
Girls’ soccer coach Dennis Snelling said he is always happy to see his players move on to the next level and continue to play.
“Rebecca has been a leader since joining the team,” Snelling said. “A four-year starting goalie is unique and it’s great that she will be able to continue to play at a high level. It has always been a safe feeling, looking at our defensive net and seeing Rebecca in front of it for the last 70 or 80 matches.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.