[ad_1]
Sarah Fuller, a senior at Vanderbilt University, made history as the first woman to play in a Power 5 soccer game when the Commodores faced the University of Missouri Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Fuller, a football player by training, joined the game after halftime as Vanderbilt’s placekicker following the absences of players exposed to Covid-19.
The 21-year-old from Texas had recently completed the football season as her team’s goaltender, helping the Commodores win their first SEC title in women’s football since 1994.
She recognized the magnitude of the moment earlier this week, saying she will be playing with the “Play Like a Girl” slogan on the back of her helmet. Fuller said the move was a nod to the nonprofit I Play Like a Girl, which aims to expose girls to opportunities in sports and in STEM-related educational and professional fields.
Missouri won the game 41-0, leaving the Commodores 0-7 for the season. But the Nashville institution missed no opportunity to mark this historic moment. Women have taken to the pitch for college football teams in the past, but never for such a prestigious team in a high profile conference.
Download the NBC News app for the latest news
“Sarah Fuller. Remember the name,” the Vanderbilt football team tweeted alongside a photo of Fuller wearing his “Play Like a Girl” helmet.
After the game, Fuller told the SEC Network that she wasn’t nervous when she stepped onto the pitch on Saturday to make history.
“Honestly, I was really calm. The SEC championship was more stressful,” she said between laughs. “But I was very excited to get out on the pitch and do my thing.”
“I represent the little girls who wanted to do that or who thought about playing football or any sport, really,” she said. “I just want to tell all the girls that you can do whatever you want, you really can. If you have that mindset all the way, you can do great things.”
Variety and David K. Li contributed.
[ad_2]
Source link