Izzy de Souza will be the first to admit her time in the pool for the Regals wasn't always smooth sailing. She played under five coaches in five years and suffered a devastating injury early in 2024 that cost her most of her season. 

Yet, through it all, the Irvine native remained a steadfast presence for her teammates, someone they could count on to give 100%, whether in workouts, practice or game action. De Souza, a three-time All-American (including first team her freshman year), concludes her career with the second-most saves in program history (901) and multiple single-game records. She's the only Regal to ever record 20 saves in a single contest.

De Souza plans to stay at Cal Lutheran to complete her master's degree in sports management and hopes to coach at the collegiate level one day.

Here are some questions to get to know the Regals' showstopper:

Q: You're now in your fifth year at Cal Lutheran … if you could go back in time and tell your first-year self one piece of advice … what would it be?
A: I would tell her to really take in and value every moment. I've spent every day of this season reminding myself that it's the last, and I'm grateful for this extra chance to play again.

Q. Since you've played for a few of them, what quality do you most appreciate in a coach?
A: For me, the most important quality in a coach is being able to trust their players. I've always played my best alongside coaches who trusted me to make my own decisions.

Q. Conference opponent you most enjoy beating 
A: CMS because it's always an extremely competitive defensive game. My favorite team to compete against in general is California Baptist University, as their pace and style of play remind me of the types of players I played with during club and high school.

Q: Best SoCal Beach
A: I'm not the biggest beachgoer, but my favorite beach to go to back home is Crescent Bay. My high school best friend (who played at Oxy - shoutout Jill!) introduced me to it, and she made me appreciate the beach more.

Q: If you could see one artist live in concert this year, who would it be?
A: Justin Bieber. I never had a "Bieber faze," but as I've gotten older, I've really begun to appreciate his voice!

Q: Best movie you've seen in the last six months
A: "We Live in Time." It's really sad, but it is a beautiful movie that explores the complexities of love, time and remembrance. 

Q: What's the funniest or weirdest thing that's ever happened to you during a game?
A: This year at the ASU tournament, I grabbed my parka and accidentally flung my chair into the pool. It was hilarious, the entire team was laughing, and I had to jump in and grab it from the bottom of the pool. 

Q: Most painful injury you've suffered in goal
A: Last season when I dislocated my shoulder and tore my labrum during a tournament. It was early in the season, and unfortunately, I was unable to compete for the rest of the year. I'm extremely grateful to have gotten surgery and had a fantastic recovery, allowing me to play this year.

Q: Your biggest role model
A: Kate Martin (played for Iowa women's basketball and in the WNBA). She is an amazing teammate, and I strive to be more like her with her positive attitude.

Q: Three songs in heaviest rotation on your Spotify playlist
A: "Anxiety" by Doechii, "Maria" by Justin Bieber and "Wildflower" by Billie Eilish 

Q: Historical figure (living or dead) you'd most like to spend an hour with
A: Harriet Tubman! I have so many questions about her work with the Underground Railroad.

Q: Do your friends/teammates have a nickname for you? What is it?
A: I actually got a new nickname on my team this year (didn't think we could come up with more). "Iggy" is my new nickname, and I have my girls high school team that I coach to thank for that 

Q: What app on your phone do you spend waaaaay too much time on?
A: Definitely TikTok. The team group chat receives at least one TikTok a week from me.

Q: Best thing about growing up in Orange County was …
A: I have two answers: it's the best, most competitive place to play water polo, and they have the BEST boba.

Q: If you could have any superpower to help you in the goal, what would it be?
A: I think if I had Elastigirl's superpowers, I'd be unstoppable. I would be able to stretch my arm out extremely quick to block, and cover the entire cage easily.

Q: What's your pre-game ritual or superstition?
A: The only thing that I do consistently for every game is my "bar taps." Before every quarter, I face the goal and jump up to tap the bar, then face the opposite goal and do it again. I've been doing it ever since I can remember playing. 

Q: Your go-to karaoke jam
A: "As Long As You Love Me" by Justin Bieber

Q: Best comfort food after a tough match
A: Olive Garden never fails me

Q: When you're not playing water polo, your favorite thing to do is …
A: Playing Fortnite with my teammates!

Q: The moment you cherish most during your time at CLU…
A: Going to UCLA in my first year was an amazing experience. We were able to play in the NCAA Division I Tournament and had an extremely close, competitive game against the No. 10-ranked team in the country.