Luca Priolo on York Lions’ Snowy Title and Back-to-Back Goal

Luca Priolo told The Game Plan that winning a national championship in the snow remains an unforgettable experience for him. The York Lions player also explained why the team wants another title, how playing for Vaughan helped him earn a larger role at York, and why he hopes university soccer could lead to the CPL.

How does Luca Priolo manage York Lions’ short season and club commitments?

Luca Priolo said York’s soccer season lasts only a couple of months, making its training and match schedule demanding alongside classes. Early in the season, some Lions players also had commitments to their League1 club teams. Priolo said the group found a routine and built its strong start on fitness work and accountability in training.

Balancing York and Vaughan

York might play once or twice in a week, Priolo explained, and a free weekend can be followed by two matches the next. He credited the team’s fitness coach and said the start of classes added another adjustment before the schedule began to feel familiar.

During preseason, players at Vaughan and Woodbridge were still involved with their club teams. Priolo said he had some flexibility because Carm coached him at both Vaughan and York. Teammates working with different club coaches had a harder time fitting York sessions around League1 training.

Standards inside the York change room

Priolo credited the Lions’ results to their chemistry as much as their preparation. Rather than looking far ahead, he said they tried to build on each match. Players were willing to point out mistakes in training and tell one another what they could improve, which helped them maintain a standard.

What did Luca Priolo say about York’s snowy national title and another run?

Luca Priolo came off the bench in York’s snowy national championship win and remembers being unable to feel his feet while warming up. He said the weather forced the team away from its intended tactics. That title now motivates the Lions, but he stressed that a previous win offers no protection in a playoff match.

Coming off the bench in the snow

Priolo said he entered in the second half and needed time to get moving after the cold warm-up. Playing brought back memories of kicking a ball through snow at elementary school recess. On the championship field, though, the conditions made controlling the ball and avoiding mistakes serious concerns.

He said the plan Carm had prepared largely gave way to clearing the ball and hoping for a favorable bounce. York won a penalty, and Priolo viewed the game as one decided by moments. His priority was staying sharp enough not to slip, lose possession and allow a counterattack.

Starting again after a championship

Returning as champions felt special, Priolo said, but it also meant resetting for a season in which every team began without a win. He described the memory of the title as motivation rather than a reason to assume York would repeat. Priolo put the team’s ambition plainly:

We want to go back to back so badly

He said York was capable of doing it, while emphasizing the risk of the playoffs: one loss ends a team’s run, and a match that reaches penalty shots can decide a season quickly.

How did Luca Priolo earn a bigger role at York through Vaughan?

Luca Priolo said he understood his role in his first year with the Lions and tried to make the most of his opportunities. A summer playing under Carm at Vaughan helped him build trust before returning to York. He also focused on getting stronger and faster to meet the physical demands of OUA soccer.

Working on strength and speed

Priolo described OUA opponents as big, strong and fast. Those demands shaped his offseason work, and he felt he improved enough to help York more in his second year with the team. He also valued the chance to keep playing for the same coach through the summer and university seasons.

Joe Colangelo’s role in the move

His route to York began with Joe Colangelo, a gym teacher at Priolo’s high school who had a connection to Vaughan. Colangelo helped him move from Unionville to Vaughan, where playing under Carm put Priolo in contact with the York coach. Priolo said that overlap made his recruiting path different from one in which a player could not play for a prospective university coach.

He described Vaughan’s environment as similar to York’s. Carm pushed players, while the club offered younger players opportunities to attend showcases in the United States and visit schools. Priolo said he was grateful to be part of that setup throughout the year.

How does Luca Priolo balance York classes and soccer?

Luca Priolo called balancing university work and soccer one of the hardest parts of being a student-athlete. Training can leave him wanting to rest as soon as he gets home, but coursework still needs attention. He relies on a routine, enough sleep and support from his father to stay on top of his responsibilities.

Priolo said he tries not to spend too much time on his phone late at night. After school and practice, he still wants time to himself, which makes protecting his sleep a challenge. He credited his father with helping him manage those competing demands.

Before university, older students he knew from high school—including soccer players who went to other schools—told him to expect more responsibility. He said their advice proved useful, although he also emphasized that continuing to play a sport he loves makes the work worthwhile.

What does Luca Priolo think about a CPL path and soccer in Canada?

Luca Priolo would welcome a chance to play in the CPL, but described his approach as giving himself the best opportunity while pursuing a degree. He also believes Canadian soccer offers players more options than it once did, with the OUA and CPL forming a pathway alongside opportunities such as League1.

Priolo said being able to study and keep playing puts him in a good position. A possible CPL opportunity appeals to him, though he did not present it as a set next step.

Looking at the broader game, he pointed to increased investment and participation in Canadian programs and linked some of that growth to the World Cup. He compared the developing OUA-to-CPL route with the established university and professional pathways players consider in the United States. In his view, the options in Canada can keep growing.

Which players and teams did Luca Priolo follow growing up?

Luca Priolo grew up watching Neymar and Ronaldo, and Toronto FC became the club he followed most closely. He still watches Neymar before his own games but declined to choose between Ronaldo and Messi, saying their different styles make a direct comparison difficult. Childhood visits to TFC matches helped build his attachment to the team.

Neymar, Ronaldo and Messi

Priolo said Neymar’s skills drew him in when he was younger and remain something he enjoys watching before matches. Ronaldo was another favorite, but Priolo said he never settled on a side in the Ronaldo-Messi debate. He considers them the two greatest players he has seen and appreciates the different roles they play.

Growing up with Toronto FC

Priolo’s parents took him to a Toronto FC match when he was little. On another occasion, he walked onto the field for the national anthem. He said watching TFC’s championship success later felt especially meaningful because it was a team he could see play in Toronto.

He also remembered the city’s support when prominent players joined the club and said the arrival of Italian players meant something to him as an Italian fan. Although he was asked about following a team in Italy, Priolo said he did not watch the league much or support a particular club there.

What advice did Luca Priolo give young players seeking a competitive team?

Luca Priolo’s main advice to young players hoping to move from house league into a competitive program was to be consistent. He said improvement takes time and depends on how hard a player is willing to work and how many hours they put in, rather than on a single tryout or training session.

His own path included a move from Unionville to Vaughan, opportunities with the club, and then a place at York. He did not suggest that every player would follow the same route. Instead, he returned to the habits a player can control: continuing to work, staying consistent and allowing time for that work to show.