TORONTO – Growing up in a soccer-loving household means finding soccer jerseys hanging about, favourite team posters on the wall, and the TV on every weekend with cheering fans from the living room couch. In the Campoli household, this was the norm, but in this Ontario University Athletics (OUA) soccer family, so much more was going on. 

Chris Campoli has become a well-known athlete throughout the OUA. He was named a two-time OUA All-star and a U Sports First-team All-Canadian.

"Seeing a banner go up at my old school [Ontario Tech University] and being able to take a Joe Johnson trophy home with me and have it now in my room is something that not a lot of people get to experience," Chris said.

He has already recorded seven goals in seven games this season and is on the rise to collect more. The star came to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in the 2023-2024 season with a goal: to bring home an OUA championship with the Bold. This year presents another chance to accomplish that, and also obtain his Master's degree in Business. 

This season, the field is going to make space for two Campolis. First-year player Michael Campoli debuted as a center-back for the TMU Bold. 

"It's kind of a full circle moment for me seeing him come into the OUA. I remember my first game and exactly what I felt like going into my rookie year," said Chris.

For the first time, the Campolis will be playing on the same team, aiming towards the same goal, and having his big brother on the field fulfills a great moment for Michael. 

"We have good chemistry on the field and I think you can't beat a brotherly connection," said Michael.

Michael is beginning his first year as a professional communications major, and TMU not only has the program he dreamed of but also the team. 

"I used to sit and watch Chris and the team play on the side and I saw how dominant they were, and I said, 'I think I want to be a part of that team.'"

After reaching out to Head Coach Fil Prostran, the process of bringing in another Campoli was in the works. 

The Campoli brothers have been immersed in soccer their entire lives as they both started playing at the age of four. During their youth, they played for teams such as the Woodbridge Strikers, Toronto FC Academy, North Mississauga, and Vaughan Soccer Club before making the jump to U SPORTS.

Growing up in an Italian family, soccer was a big part of their lives, and it was a no-brainer that all of the Campolis would grow up in the sport. 

Chris and Michael followed in their dad's footsteps, who played high-level football in Italy.

What most people don't know is that Chris wasn't the first Campoli in the OUA, it was his older brother Fabio who dominated at Ontario Tech for three years. His jersey number was later passed on to Chris when he began playing in U SPORTS. Fabio became a big influence as he coached Michael from the age of six up until he was 18 and out of club soccer, moving into university soccer. 

"From Fabio being a good soccer player, Chris followed in his footsteps and I kind of followed in, and now we're just a big soccer family in the OUA, " said Michael.

"At one point he was the second or third all-time leading goal scorer at Ontario Tech before I passed him," Chris mentioned.

Every weekend this family knew it was going to be soccer-filled, whether that meant watching the Italian Professional League on TV or attending soccer games in person, the sport had taken a huge chunk of their lives.

The Campolis follow a very family-oriented lifestyle, which was the deciding factor in choosing which team to support. 

"My dad, his dad, my dad's brothers, everybody in Italy who's  part of our family, are all AC Milan fans." 

AC Milan decorations line the walls of their home, while the commentator's voice roars throughout the house. For both brothers, playing for that team would be a dream come true.

Playing such a competitive game requires a lot of support and motivation, and for Chris and Michael, there was no lack of it from their parents. 

Chris can attribute his biggest inspiration to his parents, who came from Italy to allow him and his brothers to pursue their dreams of playing soccer. 

"All those times that my dad and mom had to leave work early to get me to practice on time or rush through dinner or miss family events," he recalled. 

Michael can also attest to the dedication his parents demonstrated as they were always there for him in preparation for practices and game days.

"They're always there for me on my lowest and my highest times to keep me focused on what I'm trying to do."

While the Campoli parents were certainly supportive, they were also sometimes their harshest critics. In a competitive sport, support is necessary, but pushing their sons to be the best versions of themselves can be even more important and beneficial. Chris was always encouraged to get better each day, regardless of the number of goals or points he achieved, or whether it was a great game or a bad one, there was always an area to improve.

"If I only got pats on the back and good jobs from him, I don't think I'd honestly become the player that I am today." 

The challenges in the sport are inevitable, and for both brothers, it hasn't been easy to get to the level they are at now. But that pressure has instilled in them a deeper love for the game.

"It's drawn me closer to the game, embracing the ups and downs of soccer," added Michael.

Chris and Michael have been taught many life lessons through soccer, and it has shaped who they are today. 

Reaching the end of the regular season, this will be the last for Chris and only the first for Michael. Each of them is en route to writing new stories and opening new chapters in their careers. 

"A year from now, hopefully, I'll have an OUA championship and a national championship to my name," said Chris, who will graduate with his MBA this school year. 

Next year things may look a little different for this family, as they continue to go down this path in the OUA. 

"I'll be off the pitch next year supporting TMU again from the sidelines, supporting my little brother and the guys as they chase another championship," Chris explained.

Right now, though, the Bold are still in a high-pressure chase, and their goal is in sight. The work and time the Campoli's have dedicated to the Bold has not gone unnoticed, and they are even more of a power duo to deal with on the field.

As for Michael, who is just getting started in his rookie year, he has the same dream, not just for the Bold, but for the entire Campoli family. 

"Becoming an OUA champion, I don't think there'd be a better feeling, and with my brother, that'd be an incredible feeling."