Getting to Know the International Women of Clayton State Soccer
(October 6, 2025)
Elisabet Isleifsdottir is a senior from Reykjavik, Iceland.
Elisabet is pursuing a dual degree, majoring in mathematics and chemical engineering. She arrived at Clayton State in August 2022, which was her first year in college. When exploring college opportunities, she enlisted the help of a soccer agent back home. She shared that, “Many coaches contacted me through my agent, and I received an email from the women's soccer coach at Clayton State at the time. I was really interested in the school, as it was close to the city and had a lot of international students, and I really liked everything about it. So, it clicked all the boxes that I wanted.”
When asked who supported her in her transition to living in Georgia and getting to know the campus she said, “I think I would say that it would be my teammates, like the seniors at that time and juniors who also came from different countries, like our captain, she was from Denmark and she really helped me go through everything like all the paperwork, everything that we had to do.”
When Elisabet became a sophomore, the chair of the math department provided her with significant academic support. She said, “His name is Dr. Elliot Krop. I've been getting a lot of help from all the math department professors.” This spring, she received the Outstanding Rising Senior Award from the Math department, and for the past three years, she has been selected for the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.
The transition from living at home with her parents to attending university in Georgia was a challenging one. “Experiencing a different culture, a new environment, and I didn't have a car. It was hard for me. However, it also taught me a great deal. I think it makes you a better person, and you grow very quickly from doing all of these things and figuring everything out on your own.”
Locally, she said, “My favorite breakfast restaurant is Cracker Barrel. I used to go there every week in 2023. In the spring, we went there after every Friday practice.” Due to games on the road, she has visited other nearby states. She said, “I've been to Florida twice on two trips because we go every other year to play them. I really enjoyed our trip to Miami. It was really nice and has a different vibe than Atlanta.”
Xenia Jacobsen is a sophomore from Koge, Denmark.
An elementary education major, Xenia, known to her friends as "J" transferred to Clayton State University after spending her first year at Limestone University in South Carolina. She had previously visited Clayton State for a tour and really liked the campus but chose Limestone University. When that University moved to shut down for financial reasons as her first year ended, J entered the transfer portal. It was then that Clayton State Women’s soccer coach Ricky Clarke contacted her, and they discussed her transferring to Clayton State. J said, “It just felt like the right place to be because I had always wondered what it would have been like if I had come here my first year instead.”
When asked about the differences between Georgia and Denmark and the transition to living here, she said, “It's different in a lot of ways, especially the weather. I think that's probably one of the biggest adjustments I had to make, just like it never gets this hot back home. But also, being away from family is a challenge, because I was so used to having them as a safety net, and now I'm on the other side of the world, far away from my family and friends.”
J has a younger sister and explains how her decision to attend college in the United States impacted her. “She misses me, of course, but I think she thinks it's cool. She plays golf at a high level and wants to attend college in the US as well. I think it's been nice for her to see me experience that. So, she, perhaps, has a better understanding of what it's going to be like for her.”
Hanna Karlsson is a sophomore from Halmstad, Sweden.
When Math major Hanna first arrived on campus, she said, “It felt a little overwhelming because I didn’t know where things were and only knew the coach at the time and some of the senior players on the soccer team from conversations I had with them on the phone during the recruiting process.” She didn’t have a car, so she didn’t know the area and was disappointed she couldn’t be much of a tour guide when she arrived with her family from Sweden.
The two places Hanna felt at home, however, were on the playing field with her soccer teammates and in the classroom during her math classes. Those were her two great strengths, which helped her power through her first year on a new campus in a new country. In fact, Hanna earned a PBC Presidential Honor Roll (2025).
Hanna credits one of her math professors for making her feel visible, seen, and appreciated outside the classroom. She said, “Every time I see him when I walk across campus, he waves, says hello, and asks me how I am doing.” That small act of kindness inspired her to introduce herself to students outside math class and her support system of fellow international soccer players. Now in her sophomore year, she feels like she has found her place at Clayton State.
Outside of the two things she considers fun — time spent playing soccer and solving math problems — Hanna has a passion for travel. Last year, she and her family went on holiday to Spain, where she enjoyed exploring the culture and beautiful scenery. Even as a player on the soccer team, she enjoys traveling with her teammates to other states and cities, experiencing different foods and cultures. She says she “really likes hearing the different accents” as she explores the southern United States.
Now, as a sophomore, she feels like she has a handle on getting things done on the field and in the classroom. Her secret to staying organized and completing her projects is utilizing calendar reminders. Hanna also remains connected to her family in Sweden with her daily FaceTime calls with her mom. She said, “I really love those moments to catch up and reconnect.” Earlier this year, during a spring break family visit, she was proud to play host and show her sister and parents around the many beautiful lakes at Clayton State and the surrounding area.
Dalya Ayayda is a sophomore from London, Ontario, Canada.
When asked how she heard about Clayton State and why she selected it, Dalya said, “I originally heard about Clayton State because the head coach of the women's soccer team had emailed me. From there, I was able to research this school and see that it met the criteria I was looking for in a school. I just wanted to be able to play soccer at a higher level, and I was given the opportunity here, so I took it.”
Dalya is pleased with her learning experience and wants to continue beyond an undergraduate degree. She shared that she is “majoring in marketing right now, so I'm planning to do a (4 + 1) marketing degree to get my master’s as well afterwards here.” An accelerated (4+1) marketing program combines a bachelor’s degree and an MBA, saving you time and money while preparing you for a career in marketing. Dalya achieved a place on the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll (2025).
It took some time, but Dalya has adjusted to the significant climate change in Georgia compared to Canada. She vividly recalls, however, “the first time walking out of the car, I was shocked. It was super-hot in the summer. That really affected me, but now I feel like I've adjusted to it a lot. Now I'm completely fine with the weather. I love summer. I'm not a big winter person, so I'm glad I get to escape the Canadian winters.”
Dalya also loves the opportunity to meet fellow women from abroad on the soccer team to learn from and share experiences with while living in America. She said, “Yeah, I feel like I've made some amazing friends from other countries. Like last year, my best friend is from Spain. Unfortunately, she's no longer here, but we remain in contact. So, it's amazing to be able to make relationships with people across the world.”
Pictured above from Left to Right: Dalya Ayayda, Hanna Karlsson, Xenia Jacob, and Elisabet Isleifsdottir.
See additional photos and video of the Clayton State University Women’s soccer players on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/kxS8TQLAOig