Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks

Former women's soccer player Israela Groves (Pickering, Ontario, Canada) wore the No. 10 jersey and served as an all-conference midfield playmaker and team captain for the Redhawks women's soccer team from 2016-2019.
 
Some keynote program accomplishments during her time at Roberts include an East Coast Conference semifinalist finish in 2016, a top 10 national ranking from the NCCAA in 2016, and a historic win over a top 10 nationally ranked team vs Mercy in the 2018 campaign - the first ever since becoming an NCAA Division II member. 
 
In 2019, the Redhawks notched a win over a reigning NCAA national championship team at Bridgeport and a subsequent qualification into the NCCAA 2019 National Championships with advancement to the Final Four.  In the classroom, the Redhawks team achieved four straight United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards from 2016 – 2020.
 
Izzy graduated in May 2020 with a degree in Biology and plans a future career in the medical field; however, her soccer pursuits have not ended as she advances into a professional soccer contract oversees in Portugal.
 
Head women's soccer coach, Sarah McClellan was able to catch up with Izzy about her professional soccer career.
 
How are you doing in your new country?
I'm doing really well! After being here for about a month now, I've fully adjusted to the time change (it took about 2 weeks) and I'm adapting to the way of life over here in Portugal. At first the language barrier was a little hard to adjust to but I'm learning. I'm able to understand a lot more and even able to now hold simple (very simple) conversation. It's an absolutely beautiful country. I haven't been able to fully explore as much as I would want to due to having little to no free time or energy being in preseason with multiple sessions a day and preseason games, but from what I've seen it's gorgeous! I will for sure have some more time in the near future and I'm very excited to see more of the country. 
 
What's the name of your pro team?  What is the league or federation they are associated with?
Right now I am playing for Lank FC Vilaverdense, a professional team in Portugal in the second division. We are looking to advance to the 1st division after winning this upcoming season. The league is Campeonato Nacional II Divisão Feminino, which translated is the National Promotion Championship of Women's Football run by the Portuguese Football federation.
 
What are you most excited about?
I am most excited to play at a professional level. It's always something I've wanted to do after college and now that I am finally here living out one of my biggest dreams, I'm ecstatic! Also having the opportunity to live in a new country, experience a new culture, and meet new people has been absolutely amazing! I'm slowly learning more portuguese and I love it. It's such a beautiful country and I'm super excited that it has warmer weather and no snow. I am excited for everything this year/season has in store for me and continue to put in that work. 
 
What advice do you have for Roberts players that want to compete at the next level?
My advice would be to never stop pushing yourself or become complacent. Use every opportunity to your advantage and improve yourself, especially with everything going on today. I'd encourage every person to not use it as an excuse, but to use it as fuel to push yourself to become the best you. Never stop working and never give up, even when it gets tough! When I feel down one of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It's a constant reminder that gets me through the hardest of times and gives me the confidence and strength to keep pushing and working. 
 
What are your long-term future plans or goals?
Long term for football, I am looking to play at the highest level. I want to push myself each and every day to be the best. Aside from football, I continue to study on the side for the MCAT to eventually go to Med School. I definitely want to pursue my football career while I am healthy and young and then translate the valuable and necessary skills I learn on the pitch to the medical field.