To Sophia Rotiroti, pursuing a post-secondary soccer career wasn't always necessarily part of the plan.
 
Recently, though, she officially accepted an offer to take part in Italy's Soccer Management Institute's (SMI) Rome City FC program, a gap year program aimed at aspiring young players.
 
"My end goal is to become a professional soccer player," said Rotiroti. "Until then, SMI will prepare me to ultimately come back to the States and play at the highest collegiate level possible."
 
During a gap year at SMI, Rotiroti will have the opportunity to earn college credits while living in Rome, take Italian language classes, and play and train with elite level players and coaches. She will join Rome City Football Club, a professional soccer academy and affiliate of College Life Italia (CLI) with a specific focus on developing tactical and technical excellence, aimed at placing players with club and collegiate programs following the year-long experience.
 
"I have always admired Italian players for their mastery in the tactical and technical sides of the game," said Rotiroti. Marco Materazzi, a Union of European Football Association Master Pro, member of the 2006 World Championship Italian National Team, and Rome City FC's director of coaching, implements programming to develop exactly those elements.
 
But her connection to the Italian game roots deeper, and the interest to continue developing her game in abroad is more than just coincidence.
 
"My love for soccer stemmed from my Grandfather, Nicola Rotiroti, who left Italy when he was 17 years old to pursue professional soccer in Canada. I want to carry on his legacy," she said.
   
During her junior season, however, Rotiroti suffered an ACL tear, and began the often year or more road to full recovery. "It was a rough patch, and I really started to doubt whether I should continue to pursue soccer."
 
Fortunately, she soon found solace and guidance in the relationship she had with her Grandfather, and her perspective and future prospects in the game began to change. "I would think about the great times we had, and the passion and love that filled him when he talked about the game. Those memories helped bring out my will to work and to get back on the right track."
 
She also credits the injury experience with helping to develop mental toughness. "I realized that mindset plays a major role in outcomes," she added.
 
As her leg grew stronger, she was able to attend some camps, but due to the pandemic, was forced mostly to train at home in the mornings.
 
She also began writing down her goals to help keep her focused. "CGA Soccer taught me a lot about prioritization," she said. "The main goal I had going into my senior season was to help instill a collective will to win in our entire team."
   
"The ultimate goal of our program is to instill the program values of: Character, Attitude, Pride, Tradition, Team," said head coach Nate King. "We want our players to inspire each other to leave the jersey and program in a better place at the end of our time together."
 
Post-recovery, in her fourth and final Varsity season, Rotiroti helped lead the 2020 CGA team to one of its most successful campaigns in program history. In the 2020 post-season, the squad captured IHSAA Sectional and Regional titles, making the program's second-ever trip to Semi-State, and fell to the eventual State Championship Bishop Dwenger team 0-1.
   
"This year we had that mentality and the willingness to sacrifice for any player on our team, and that's why we found success," she said.
 
King added, "I hope Sophia's story of redemption, resilience and relationships can be a inspiration to past, present, and future members of CGA Soccer to dream and take on life's trials and tribulations."
 
During her time with Rome City FC, Rotiroti also plans to secure her realtor's license.