By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

GALLIVARE, Sweden -- Former Willamette University women's soccer player Maddy Grainger '13 has extended her playing career beyond college. She has played three seasons of semi-professional soccer with the Real Salt Lake women's team in Utah. Now, she is playing professional women's soccer in Gallivare, Sweden, for Malmbergets AIF Damlag.

As a defender at Willamette from 2009 through the 2012 season, Grainger saw action in 77 games for the Bearcats. She scored two goals and earned four assists fro eight total points. She took a total of 31 shots, including 16 shots on goals. Both of her goals were game-winners.

At Real Salt Lake, which competes in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), Grainger played defense and helped the team win the 2014 WPSL Championship. The WPSL is the second division in the United States behind the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

This year, Grainger played in all 12 games games and scored three goals and four assists for Real Salt Lake. At the conclusion of the season in late July, she joined Malmbergets AIF Damlag. In her first four games, she as scored five goals and recorded four assists. Malbergets competes in the third division in Sweden, but has a good chance to be elevated to the second division next year.

Grainger is competing as one of three international players on the team's mostly Swedish roster and is playing as a center midfielder. She recently scored a hat trick with three goals in one game.

"I played defense at Willamette and also on the RSL women's team. Playing center midfielder on this team has offered me many more opportunities at the goal," Grainger said.