The Georgia College & State University community is mourning the loss of a remarkable young woman who inspired everyone around her with her courage and positivity.
Isabella “Izzy” Sause, a 19-year-old sophomore on the Bobcats' women's soccer team, died Sunday morning surrounded by family and loved ones, following a courageous battle with cancer. The school announced her passing in a heartfelt social media post, calling her "a ray of sunshine on the cloudiest day."
Sause was pursuing a pre-nursing degree while undergoing treatment, driven by a dream to one day become a nurse and help children facing serious illnesses. Her passion for caring for others shone through even as she fought her own health battle.
Head coach Jack Marchant paid tribute to her enduring spirit: "Izzy was always a beaming light of positivity and saw the best in any situation. She was and always will be an integral part of our group, and we know she will always be a Bobcat and be with us."
The team's photographer and friend also shared a touching message, describing how Izzy's resilience and joy never wavered. "To know Izzy—even just through a camera lens—was to see what absolute resilience and pure joy look like," he wrote. "Facing cancer as a teenager never soured her love for life, her team, or the game. Instead, she chose to be the loudest cheerleader on the sidelines, celebrating every goal with unmatched energy and a smile that lit up the pitch."
He added, "She leaves us with the ultimate lesson: to find joy in every moment, to embrace life fully, and to celebrate others fiercely. Thank you for showing us how it’s done, Izzy. Your light keeps shining."
The Bobcats' soccer family, along with the entire GCSU community, has rallied around each other in this difficult time. The loss has also resonated beyond the campus, echoing the recent tragic passing of another NCAA soccer star earlier this year.
A memorial service for Izzy will be held on Sept. 18 at Graystone Church on Ozora Road in Loganville. Visitation begins at 3 p.m., followed by a service at 5 p.m., where friends, teammates, and admirers will gather to celebrate a life that touched so many.
In the meantime, those who knew Izzy are holding onto the lessons she taught them—about finding joy in every moment, embracing life fully, and celebrating others fiercely. Her legacy as a Bobcat and as a future nurse who never stopped caring will live on.
