In her first season in America, Tooting’s Karin Muya is already grabbing the headlines.

The former Chelsea striker, who is in her first year of a soccer scholarship at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, put in a performance beyond her years in only her second match in the NCAA Championship College Cup.

The 19-year-old bagged the winner in the 86th minute to turn the scores around against Texas last week and secure a 2-1 win for the Fighting Irish and safe passage to the third round.

However, it was heartbreak for Muya just days later, when, despite scoring her side’s only goal, she could not prevent a 2-1 defeat to Texas A&M at Ellis Field Undeterred, Muya has at least three more years to reach an elusive NCAA Championship Cup final during her time abroad.

The speedy forward said: “I know there is a lot more to come and I definitely know that I want to pursue playing professional soccer. be it here or at home.

“However, I am at a great university and have other options.”

She added: “It is an amazing experience and a fantastic opportunity.”

Karin, a product of Burntwood School, Wandsworth, rose through the ranks with Chelsea Ladies, graduating from the club’s centre of excellence, which she trained with from the tender age of 10 years old.

Despite making her way into the first team after being part of the U17 side that won both the league title and FA girls’ youth cup in 2012, Muya opted for a US soccer scholarship, with the chance to earn a degree thanks to FirstPoint USA.

Her coaches at Chelsea, Keith Harmes and James Lambdon, told the England U19 international about the opportunity to experience life as a collegiate student-cum-athlete. The Londoner said: “I am very blessed to be a student at Notre Dame.

“We play in the ACC Conference so we get to travel every weekend around the US and visit different universities.

“So far I have visited California, Pittsburgh, Boston and Syracuse, and I am currently in Texas.

“It’s hard work and between my commitments with the team, and to my studies, I am usually working at least 12 hour days.

“If I want to socialise with friends I really have to sit down and consider and contemplate whether it is worth my precious hours of sleep.”

Your Local Guardian:

The way we were: Chelsea starlet in the making, Karin Muya, aged 12