The Olympic Games are renowned for making household names of previously unheralded competitors, and women's footballer Steph Houghton (pictured scoring in last night's game) may just be on her way to achieving such a status after an amazing start to the London 2012.

The Loughborough College graduate has scored in all three of Team GB's group games - a feat made even more amazing because she’s played each match at left back - helping her team to ease into the quarter-finals with a 100% record.

Her latest goal was the decisive strike against tournament favourites Brazil in front of a record-breaking 70,584 crowd at Wembley Stadium last night – the most ever for a women’s football match in the UK.

Staff at her former college are full of praise for the Durham-born star who is rapidly catching the nation's attention. Chris McGeorge, the College's Elite Sport Education Officer, says Houghton is exemplifying the ethos of the institution.

"Steph was always as committed to her studies as she was to her football," he explains. "The ethos at Loughborough College is one that fosters success in both an academic and sporting sense, and will go the extra mile to ensure that sporting ambitions are met."

His colleague, Sport Development Officer Rob Jarram, says the College is extremely proud of Houghton and the numerous other members of the team with links to the institution.

"The girls are doing a fantastic job at the Games," he told Podium. "A number of them studied with us through a scheme with the Football Association, and Steph was one of them.

"It is fantastic to see her taking her chances in front of goal and she is undoubtedly on her way to becoming one of the most recognised female footballers in the UK, if not the world, which is great for her and the College."

Houghton and her team-mates topped their group and will now go on to play Canada in their quarter-final at the City of Coventry Stadium on Friday evening.

By Carly Baldwin