Sarah Keilty-Dilling grew up in the community of Oakridge in Calgary.

Grace Stordy also grew up in the southwest, in Willow Park.

Both were football crazy from a young age and wondered if they would ever be able to play professionally in front of their hometown fans.

Thanks to Wild FC, which will begin play in 2025, that dream is now a reality as the duo are the latest recruits to Calgary’s new soccer team.

Keilty-Dilling, 31, is a goalkeeper and says it’s an incredible day.

“Honestly, I’m over the moon,” she said.

“It’s a dream come true, a childhood dream come true, which is crazy, because how can I put that into words?

“The emotions and the feelings it gives you, honestly, it means everything to me to sign with the Calgary Wild.”

Stordy, 22, is fullback and she echoes Keilty-Dilling’s thoughts.

“It’s huge,” she said.

“I know Sarah said it was a dream come true, and I don’t think there are better words to describe it.

“To be able to lace up these cleats and play professionally in Calgary is just incredible.”

Big day for Wild

Keilty-Dilling and Stordy are the third and fourth players signed by the Wild.

They join Farkhunda Muhtaj and Meikayla Moore, who signed earlier.

Lara Murphy, president and general manager, says adding local players is important to the team.

“It’s huge,” she said.

“Today is a day that should be celebrated in the city and the province, and we are very happy to welcome local players to the team.”

Lara Murphy, president and CEO of the center, says the signing of Grace Stordy and Sarah Keilty-Dilling is “huge.”

Will help develop the game

Keilty-Dilling brings a wealth of experience to the team.

She won a national championship with the Calgary Foothills in 2016 and played in the NCAA Division 1 at the University of El Paso, Texas, and also spent a year at FC Tucson.

She hopes these signings will help grow women’s football in Calgary.

“The fact that this dream is now becoming a really tangible thing that young girls in Calgary can really dream about (in a way) ‘actually exists’ is so special and so incredible, so yeah, I’m excited,” he said. -she declared. .

Inspiring young footballers

Stordy also won the national title with the Calgary Foothills in 2016.

She went on to play at the University of Memphis and says she will be all in on inspiring younger players.

“Growing up, for me, there really wasn’t anyone or anything that I could look up to when I was young,” she said.

“Now that we’re here, I’m definitely going to put it out there and be available for these young girls to look up to people like me and all the other girls on this team and let them know that it’s definitely possible.”

Wild FC are one of six teams in the newly created Northern Super League, which will begin its inaugural season in 2025 and play at McMahon Stadium.