Four years ago, you would have had a hard time convincing Siddaly Alcock that she would become a collegiate soccer player; it wasn't something she seriously considered.

"I hadn't really thought about playing at university until around grade nine. Coming into university, I was actually not going to play."

Spending her formative years learning the sport with Calgary West Soccer Club, Alcock remained local for much of her soccer career, eventually landing a spot with the Calgary Blizzards. 

During her time with the Blizzards, playing under University of Calgary Dinos Head Coach Diogo Raposo, Alcock proved to be a steady and reliable defender on the pitch. However, despite her love for the game, the thought of playing post secondary soccer wasn't her main objective. It wasn't until December of 2022 that things took a sharp turn and the chance to return to the pitch as a collegiate player became a reality.

"I was encouraged by my coach to reach out to Tino (Fusco). I reached out, and we kind of got everything moving from there. I got into my program (at Mount Royal) on Christmas Day, actually, and then by January I was committed."

With Alcock's future in soccer seemingly clearer, nobody could have predicted her sudden rise to becoming one of the Cougars' most important players. Throughout her time at MRU, Alcock has been a mainstay on the team's backline, starting in 45 of her 48 games played and providing shutdown defence against Canada West's best offensive threats.

If there's any proof that box scores do not tell the full story, Alcock's career as a Cougar is a great example. As the Cougars' primary right back, the 4th-year's athleticism and playmaking skills have become crucial assets to the Cougars' ascension into prominence.
 
As gifted as Alcock is athletically, there's an argument that she shines even brighter when she's away from the field and in the classroom. In her final year studying Physical Literacy at Mount Royal, the two-time U-Sports Academic All-Canadian (2023-24, 2024-25) has big plans for what lies ahead for her.

"My goal right now is that I'm applying to go to grad school. I want to become a physiotherapist, so I'm going to apply to a few schools in Canada and hopefully get to go into physiotherapy."

Entering university with hopes of working in the world of health in some form, Alcock's calling became clear during her practicum last year. In her time working at a local spinal cord clinic, Alcock says that the optimism that comes with helping people became a big driver in her wanting to pursue a physio career.

"I got to work with people who were paralyzed and had low mobility. It was so cool to be able to watch people make progress. They go from not being able to walk at all to being able to walk in some cases, and helping them go through that process and learning the exercises, that really just sparked my interest."

"I think it definitely can be tough, but it's also really encouraging because the people are so nice, and you get to see such a connected group. So there's all this encouragement coming from all the people around, and it's nice to know you're helping them get to where they want to be."

On the pitch, Siddaly Alcock is integral to the Mount Royal Cougars' success as a unit. Her unselfish play, attention to detail, and dependability are traits that have served her well throughout her time in Cougars Blue. Now, as Alcock prepares for what's ahead, it's clear she doesn't have any regrets about her decision to play collegiate soccer in her hometown.