As a high schooler, Maddie Iozzi was given the opportunity to play for the U-17 Canadian national team. The Ontario native won a silver medal at the 2012 CONCACAF championship in Guatemala which qualified them for the U-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

“Just to get a medal, it was breathtaking,” Iozzi said. “It’s crazy to think that I was able to play for my country.”

Now Iozzi is bringing her international experience to Syracuse. The freshman has come in right away and earned playing time, quickly becoming an integral part of the defense while also providing the Orange with an attacking attitude to make plays for her teammates.

Since the start of the season, Iozzi has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable defenders.

“I fell in love with Syracuse,” Iozzi said. “Just the atmosphere and everything about it.”

Iozzi grew up in Ontario, where she started playing soccer when she was 3 years old, learning by watching the Canadian women’s national team play.

“Christine St. Claire … she inspired me kind of,” Iozzi said, “because of all the hard work.”

In 10th grade, Iozzi committed to play soccer at Mississippi State. However, after her official visit in 2012, MSU’s head coach contacted her to inform her that he would not be returning.

So she flipped her commitment. Two years later, she’s playing for the Orange.

Iozzi brings an attacking style to the defense, and is always looking to be an outlet for her teammates to get the ball up the field and provide the team with scoring opportunities.

Iozzi recorded her first career point on Aug. 30 — an assist against Albany in a 4-0 win. A week later in a game against Fairleigh Dickinson, Iozzi scored her first career goal with a shot off the post in a 2-1 Syracuse victory.

Head coach Phil Wheddon has emphasized a possession-oriented offense, which Iozzi has enjoyed playing in. As Syracuse makes the transition to the Atlantic Coast Conference, it only brings up new challenges for the team.

“The speed of play now is going to be a little bit faster,” Wheddon said, “and decisions have to be quicker.”

Wheddon has had no problems leaning on Iozzi to play a consistent role in the defense. The coach said that there are no classes on the team, which has enabled Iozzi to have an immediate effect on the defense.

Fellow defender Kayla Afonso, a senior, was quick to notice Iozzi’s aggressive style of play. Communication is crucial to stay compact and prevent breakdowns, Wheddon said, and Afonso already sees that vocal nature that’s a necessity on defense.

“She’s stepped up at her position, and done her job,” Afonso said. “She’s loud, quick and aggressive.”

She’s just a freshman, but she knows soccer will always be a part of her life. Even if she’s not able to eventually play at the professional level, she hopes to have a future in coaching.

“The thing I really want to do is work with special needs children … even like special Olympics,” Iozzi said.

Whatever she decides to do, soccer will always play an important role in her life. Her goal is to continue playing for the Canadian national team after she earns her degree.

“Just that whole experience with the national team was such a journey and so memorable,” Iozzi said. “I want to try to keep doing that later on. It was an amazing experience, and hopefully I’ll be able to experience that again.”

Published on September 18, 2013 at 12:01 am