Forward scores with Icelandic Thor/Ka league

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Whenever one soccer season ends, Sarah Miller, a 2011 graduate of Lakewood Ranch High, turns her attention to the next step. 

So, with her final season ending at the University of South Florida last November, Miller began looking toward the next chapter in her career. But this step would require a move 3,776 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Akueryi, Iceland. 

Miller never envisioned playing professional soccer until the summer before her senior season at USF. At that point, Miller began discussing the possibility with her coaches, who were thrilled with the idea. 

Before long, Miller began working with an agent, who sent out highlight videos to professional teams in Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Germany. 

“When you are married and have a family, it’s harder to get out and do things. I was already in shape, so it was kind of like I need to do it now,” Miller says. 

Miller, who graduated in December with a degree in childhood education, was on vacation in New York City right before Christmas with her boyfriend, Anthony Teta, when she received the call that Thor/Ka, Iceland’s professional women’s soccer team, was in need of an outside forward and wanted Miller. 

“It was kind of like I knew something would come, but I wasn’t even thinking about it,” Miller says. “I just remember thinking ‘Wow, I can’t believe this is actually happening.’” 

Shortly thereafter, Miller signed her contract and spent the  

next three months training before leaving for Iceland April 15. Miller knew little about “the land of ice and snow” other than the stories she had heard from two of her former college teammates who were from Iceland. 

“It’s a different culture,” Miller says. “I’m excited. I’ve heard what a peaceful country it is, and they are always telling me how beautiful the land is and all of the natural beauty (there).” 

After a series of preseason games, Miller made her professional regular season debut May 14, scoring Thor/Ka’s lone goal of the match. 

It was Miller’s first regular season goal since she scored the game-winning goal versus East Carolina Oct. 26, on Senior Day. 

I just remember thinking, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this is actually happening.’”

 

– Sarah Miller 

 

Miller finished her collegiate career with seven goals, five of which were game-winning goals, and nine assists. Prior to her time at USF, Miller helped power Lakewood to three district championships and a berth in the Final Four in 2010, finishing with 96 career goals and a school record 65 assists while earning MVP honors three consecutive seasons. 

Miller will remain in Iceland for the duration of Thor/Ka’s season, which runs through September. It will be the longest period of time Miller, who has never been farther than Tampa for an extended period of time, has spent away from her family in Lakewood Ranch. 

In Iceland, Miller is living with fellow forward Kayla Grimsley, who played for George Jenkins in Lakeland and the University of South Carolina. 

“I’m looking forward to opening my eyes to a new culture, and I’m a Christian, so I feel like I’ll be seeing God in a new way. I’m so used to having America on my mind, so to open my mind to new things and see him in a new way is my No. 1 goal.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].