Zach Ziliotto '23 Recruiting Profile

I want to play on a University team that challenges my physical skills on the soccer field, my soccer IQ, and my academic abilities. I want to be part of a team that gives back to the community and that strives to be it's best on and off the field. I know from my past experience and current situation that I can succeed in a more challenging soccer environment, and that I would thrive in it. 

My name is Zach Ziliotto and I am a 2005 born-player from Toronto, Ontario. I am currently a starting Outside back for Jefferson College in Missouri.  With Jefferson being a top JUCO soccer program (ranked 7 in NJCAA D1 for the 2022/2023 season), I chose to play there as an opportunity to gain experience and exposure to transfer to a top D1 school for 2024.  Currently I am regularly starting and a lot of minutes. I am also gaining experience playing with and against men up to 9 years older than I am. I feel confident in my abilities and can't wait for a bigger challenge. 

Before playing for Jefferson College, I played as an Outside-Back on either the right or left side for North Toronto League One Ontario U-21, in Toronto. We played in the highest provincial league in Canada and were ranked first in Canada in the past years after success at top US showcases, and finishing at the top of League One Ontario U-19 and U -21. During the summer of 2022 I attended ID camps at the University of New Hampshire, University of Connecticut and Boston University. All camps were successful as I feel I played well and received very positive feedback from the coaches.  

Over my playing career I have gained international experience captaining my team at the MIC Cup in Spain in 2017 and 2018, and more importantly being a trialist with 1st and 2nd division academies in Germany in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. These opportunities definitely helped me grow and become a better player. I was a center-mid most of my life but working with coaches in Germany in 2021 we decided I might be even better suited to play as a wing-back. My explosiveness, strength, and ability to win the ball were a big part of the decision. I feel that being a multi-positional player is a huge advantage to my game.

I attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute in Toronto and graduated with honors and a Business Certificate.  I have always been interested in business and sports business and want to go into those fields in the future. I have a strong sense of determination and focus, but I always remember to also enjoy things off the soccer pitch. I will do anything to help my team win and I have the personality to easily fit into a new group.