CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University women's soccer team touched a different point on the world map with its newest signing, adding Íris Björk Róberts of Kopavogur, Iceland. She is the first ever student-athlete to attend Ashford from her home country.

Róberts is currently enrolled for the spring semester and has already been involved in offseason conditioning with Head Coach Mick Regan's squad. The 21-year old will carry sophomore status going into the fall season.

Róberts transferred in from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Regan's class for 2010 continued to get richer, as he traveled to Bettendorf to officially ink Pleasant Valley High School teammates Trisha Shoemaker and Brittany Paustian on Wednesday (read their story here).

Regan, of English descent, and Róberts had a common interest when they met, sharing an affinity for Manchester United, a popular soccer team in the English Premier League.

"It's very exciting for our program to be signing a player of her caliber and background," Regan said. "She contacted us and is really excited to be a part of our team."

Róberts joins a diverse Saints' roster that includes a Brazilian (Amanda Campos) and four Canadians (Stephanie Spencer, Chelsea Fisher, Brittany Caddel, Kira Favaro).

But Róberts' story deserves further probing, hailing from a country from which she says has about 300,000 in its total population. She has the desire to be a pioneer for girls in Iceland and her passion shone through as she talked about pursuing a collegiate career in soccer.

"It is common for some girls to find scholarships in different sports out of the country like Boston or San Francisco," she said. "I'm very excited about the plans Coach (Regan) has for the team. I can't wait to be a part of the offense because I don't shy away from the physical contact."

Róberts served on the U-17 National Icelandic Team and received the Golden Shoe Award with her club team in California in 2008. She was voted her team's Most Valuable Player in 2001 and won a variety of cups and national titles on her club team in Iceland.

Róberts started her playing experience at the young age of five, but spent time playing for club teams. She says soccer is very popular in Iceland, but at Menntaskolinn Vid Sund High School, all organized sports are non-existent and education is prioritized over athletics.

The Saints are coming off a 12-6-1 performance in the fall, including a first-round upset win over Viterbo University in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament.

Róberts, the daughter of Robert Hannesson and Helga Magnus Dottir, is continuing her education at Ashford in Graphic Design.