TicketsCINCINNATI - Vanessa Gilles, a four-year starter and defensive stalwart for the University of Cincinnati women's soccer program, has signed a professional contract with Apollon Ladies FC in Apollon, Cyprus, the club announced last week. Gilles, who recently completed her highly successful career with the Bearcats in 2017, has joined a side that has won nine Pancyprian Women's Championships in a row and competed in the UEFA Women's Champion League as well.
"It's always been a goal of mine to play professionally after college," Gilles said. "Getting this opportunity to sign my first professional contract has taught me that it really isn't all about how you play but about the support around you, which is why I couldn't be more appreciative for my friends, family, former coaches and staff who have helped me every step of the way.
"I chose Apollon because it felt like the right fit at the time," Gilles continued. "They're going through a rebuilding phase, much like UC when I had first joined, so you can always expect there to be a great energy coming from the coaches and players. Obviously, it's every footballers dream to play in the Champions League and, with Apollon, I think we can get there again."
Gilles is the second player under current head coach Neil Stafford to sign a professional contract after Danielle Rotheram signed with FC Metz (France) following her senior campaign in 2015.
"It's a credit to everyone involved in the program, from the coaches to the players and even all the support staff during Vanessa's time at UC," Stafford said of Gilles' signing. "I think it shows exactly who Vanessa is and why she's received this opportunity. She is a very driven young lady, competitive, relentless and has an incredibly strong mentality to compliment her soccer ability. We know that she will represent the university and the Bearcats in a very positive manner in Cyprus. She will be a fantastic ambassador for the University of Cincinnati."
Since its founding in 2007, ALFC worked to reach the top of the table and, just two years later, was able to claim its first of nine-consecutive doubles, winning the domestic championship before also hoisting the Cypriot Cup. Add to that seven Cypriot Super Cups and nine trips to the UEFA Women's Champions League and ALFC has proven to be the top club in Cyprus for years.
This past Sunday (January 14) was Match Day 8 in the 18-match season for ALFC and Gilles not only made her professional debut, but also was member of the Starting XI. She played the full 90 as ALFC played A.E. Family to a 1-1 draw. With the result, ALFC remain in second on the Cyprus First Division table on 20 points with Barcelona leading the way on 22 points.
Prior to her professional debut, Gilles' goals resonated with her time at UC.
"Well, in Coach Stafford's famous words, 'it's not how you start, but how you end'," Gilles said. "So, instead of stressing or thinking about goals, cleans sheets or what have you, I'm going to take it one day at a time and try to get assimilated into the pro level of play and try to better myself with every chance I get."
Playing professionally will be much different than the collegiate game, but that challenge is something Stafford believes Gilles' style will help her fit in well with Apollon FC.
"Vanessa is very impactful and, as a center back who can score goals, that makes her a bit unique and valuable," Stafford said. "Outstanding on set pieces, she's excellent in the air, tough on a tackle, difficult to get by and very strong. She also understands front shoulder defending which can be different from the typical defenders who drop off players. I think with her style of play, she may compliment another defender who possess a bit more technical ability than Vanessa."
During her time at UC, Gilles anchored a defense that continued to improve each year, allowing a fewer number of goals than the previous season. A central defender, Gilles started and played 82 career matches, tying her for the seventh-most matches started in program history. She added 17 career goals and two assists for 36 points with five of her goals going down as game-winning strikes. The 2017 American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection, Gilles led a senior class that recorded 40 career shutouts, the most of any senior class in program history. She also was part of a class that finished with a +50 goal differential in their four years together, the second-highest total in program history.
The co-defensive honor was not the only award earned by Gilles in 2017. She was also named United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team to become the first Bearcats player since 2002 to earn a regional honor. The 2016 AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Gilles was a four-time conference team honoree, twice being named first team to go with one second team (2015) and one all-rookie (2014) accolade. She also was ranked among the Top 100 players in the nation according to Top Drawer Soccer in 2017.
But athletic awards were not the only honors received by Gilles during her career. Gilles continually carried higher than a 3.9 GPA throughout her playing career and, in 2017, coupled those marks with her playing statistics to garner several regional and national academic honors. She was selected to the first team for both the CoSIDA Academic All-District and USC Scholar All-North/Central Region honors before earning selections as a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and USC Scholar All-America Second Team honoree. She is the first Bearcats player to earn the USC honor since 2001 and the first in program history to earn honors from both CoSIDA (sports information) and USC (coaches) in the same year.
"I couldn't have asked for a better college career," Gilles said. "I think my time at UC has not only prepared me for the pro game, but also for life in general. If it weren't for the amazing friends, teammates, coaches and staff at UC and back home, I don't think I would have been able to make the decision to move across the world into a completely different culture knowing absolutely no one in the country. So, not only has UC taught me how to think differently in terms of soccer, but it has taught me how to adapt and become more independent.
The ALFC domestic season continues through April 15.
"It's always been a goal of mine to play professionally after college," Gilles said. "Getting this opportunity to sign my first professional contract has taught me that it really isn't all about how you play but about the support around you, which is why I couldn't be more appreciative for my friends, family, former coaches and staff who have helped me every step of the way.
"I chose Apollon because it felt like the right fit at the time," Gilles continued. "They're going through a rebuilding phase, much like UC when I had first joined, so you can always expect there to be a great energy coming from the coaches and players. Obviously, it's every footballers dream to play in the Champions League and, with Apollon, I think we can get there again."
Gilles is the second player under current head coach Neil Stafford to sign a professional contract after Danielle Rotheram signed with FC Metz (France) following her senior campaign in 2015.
"It's a credit to everyone involved in the program, from the coaches to the players and even all the support staff during Vanessa's time at UC," Stafford said of Gilles' signing. "I think it shows exactly who Vanessa is and why she's received this opportunity. She is a very driven young lady, competitive, relentless and has an incredibly strong mentality to compliment her soccer ability. We know that she will represent the university and the Bearcats in a very positive manner in Cyprus. She will be a fantastic ambassador for the University of Cincinnati."
Since its founding in 2007, ALFC worked to reach the top of the table and, just two years later, was able to claim its first of nine-consecutive doubles, winning the domestic championship before also hoisting the Cypriot Cup. Add to that seven Cypriot Super Cups and nine trips to the UEFA Women's Champions League and ALFC has proven to be the top club in Cyprus for years.
This past Sunday (January 14) was Match Day 8 in the 18-match season for ALFC and Gilles not only made her professional debut, but also was member of the Starting XI. She played the full 90 as ALFC played A.E. Family to a 1-1 draw. With the result, ALFC remain in second on the Cyprus First Division table on 20 points with Barcelona leading the way on 22 points.
Prior to her professional debut, Gilles' goals resonated with her time at UC.
"Well, in Coach Stafford's famous words, 'it's not how you start, but how you end'," Gilles said. "So, instead of stressing or thinking about goals, cleans sheets or what have you, I'm going to take it one day at a time and try to get assimilated into the pro level of play and try to better myself with every chance I get."
Playing professionally will be much different than the collegiate game, but that challenge is something Stafford believes Gilles' style will help her fit in well with Apollon FC.
"Vanessa is very impactful and, as a center back who can score goals, that makes her a bit unique and valuable," Stafford said. "Outstanding on set pieces, she's excellent in the air, tough on a tackle, difficult to get by and very strong. She also understands front shoulder defending which can be different from the typical defenders who drop off players. I think with her style of play, she may compliment another defender who possess a bit more technical ability than Vanessa."
During her time at UC, Gilles anchored a defense that continued to improve each year, allowing a fewer number of goals than the previous season. A central defender, Gilles started and played 82 career matches, tying her for the seventh-most matches started in program history. She added 17 career goals and two assists for 36 points with five of her goals going down as game-winning strikes. The 2017 American Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection, Gilles led a senior class that recorded 40 career shutouts, the most of any senior class in program history. She also was part of a class that finished with a +50 goal differential in their four years together, the second-highest total in program history.
The co-defensive honor was not the only award earned by Gilles in 2017. She was also named United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team to become the first Bearcats player since 2002 to earn a regional honor. The 2016 AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Gilles was a four-time conference team honoree, twice being named first team to go with one second team (2015) and one all-rookie (2014) accolade. She also was ranked among the Top 100 players in the nation according to Top Drawer Soccer in 2017.
But athletic awards were not the only honors received by Gilles during her career. Gilles continually carried higher than a 3.9 GPA throughout her playing career and, in 2017, coupled those marks with her playing statistics to garner several regional and national academic honors. She was selected to the first team for both the CoSIDA Academic All-District and USC Scholar All-North/Central Region honors before earning selections as a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and USC Scholar All-America Second Team honoree. She is the first Bearcats player to earn the USC honor since 2001 and the first in program history to earn honors from both CoSIDA (sports information) and USC (coaches) in the same year.
"I couldn't have asked for a better college career," Gilles said. "I think my time at UC has not only prepared me for the pro game, but also for life in general. If it weren't for the amazing friends, teammates, coaches and staff at UC and back home, I don't think I would have been able to make the decision to move across the world into a completely different culture knowing absolutely no one in the country. So, not only has UC taught me how to think differently in terms of soccer, but it has taught me how to adapt and become more independent.
The ALFC domestic season continues through April 15.