A college football star from Maple Ridge is bringing her NCAA talents closer to home.
Simon Fraser University has announced “a massive signing” of Isabella Muzzolini.
A forward and midfielder, Muzzolini played for Canada at the youth level and transferred to SFU after one season with the NCAA Division I Georgia Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference.
“Bella is a competitive player with great qualities on and off the ball,” SFU head coach Annie Hamel said. “His movement to create space, passing range and creativity in the final third will help our team get on the scoresheet. Goals have been a problem for the last two seasons and we think Isabella is helping us a lot to create goalscoring chances.
Muzzolini played 18 games for Georgia in the 2021 season, starting 13. She helped the Bulldogs finish the campaign with an 11-5-3 record. He now has three years of eligibility left to play for SFU.
“Bella is a massive signing for us,” Hamel said. “She’s a well-known player in our community and someone who has a lot of experience on the court. Bringing her to SFU demonstrates that we have ambitious goals for the program and that she is an important player in our reloading process. I have no doubt that it is because of her that others will come, that is what she represents for women’s soccer at SFU.
Muzzolini developed her game through Canada Soccer’s Women’s Excel program, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy and Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club.
She played for Canada at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Under-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida, where the team placed fifth. That same year, Muzzolini was selected on Canada’s extensive roster for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
In 2019, Muzzolini participated in three different camps for Canada’s National Under-17 Team. However, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2020 has been canceled due to COVID.
She joined the Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy in 2017 after playing for Coquitlam Metro-Ford. Muzzolini captained the Whitecaps U-18 side in the 2020-21 season.
“I chose SFU because I felt college was the best environment for me to be successful both in the classroom and on the soccer field,” said Muzzolini, a graduate of Burnaby Central Secondary School.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing my athletic and college career close to home. The team and staff have been very welcoming and I’m excited to begin my journey at SFU.
Muzzolini made the honor roll and principal’s list every year in high school and eventually wants to be a lawyer.
His season will begin with exhibition matches in August. Muzzolini plays this summer for TSS Rovers of League1 BC.
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