Israela "Izzy"Groves, a former standout midfielder for the women's soccer team and 2020 graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College, continues to shine on the pitch as a professional soccer player in Portugal.
Groves, a native of Pickerington, Ontario, scored two goals in the Division 2 championship match as Lank FC Vilaverdense won 3-0 to complete an undefeated season and earn a spot in Division 1 of  the National Promotion Championship of Women's Football run by the Portuguese Football federation.
Groves, a second-team All-East Coast Conference selection during her senior season at Roberts, led her team in scoring as a rookie this season.
"It was quite an amazing experience and feeling," Groves said of her experience in Portugal.
Groves played four seasons for the Redhawks, finishing with 15 goals and eight assists for 38 points. She helped Roberts reach the semifinals of the National Christian College Athletic Association tournament while captaining the Redhawks in 2019.
"Izzy carried herself with a professional maturity in her approach to training from the time she first stepped on the Roberts campus as a freshman to her senior year helping lead our program to the NCCAA National Final Four," Roberts women's soccer coach
Sarah McClellan said. "Izzy worked extremely hard to develop her game and took every opportunity to improve; It's no surprise at all how well she is transitioning into professional international soccer. She is a great example to younger players that if you fall in love with the daily process of putting in the work and dedicate yourself to high standards, then you position yourself to be ready when opportunity knocks."
While she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field someday, Groves is currently focused on helping her team improve and compete at the highest level of women's soccer in Portugal.
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