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Twenty-one year old Sarah Fuller is both the goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt Women’s Soccer Team and the kicker for the Vanderbilt Men’s Football Team. On November 28th, Fuller made history by becoming the first woman to play in a college football Power Five conference game. After leading the Vanderbilt Women’s Soccer Team to victory during the Southeastern Conference Championship, Fuller planned to return home for Thanksgiving break. However, when the football team’s kickers could not practice due to COVID, Sarah’s soccer coach called her with the opportunity to kick for the team that weekend.
Sarah wore number 32, the same number she wears on her soccer jersey. In addition, she wore a helmet with the phrase “Play Like a Girl.” After the game, Sarah noted, “I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to. You really can. If you have that mentality all the way through, you can do big things.” Despite her incredible success, this was not the end for Sarah Fuller.
Fuller made history yet again when playing for Vanderbilt in another Power Five game against Tennessee. In the first half of the game, the coach put in Sarah to kick the extra point for the team. She made the kick and became the first woman to score points in a Power Five college football game. Sarah Fuller serves as an inspiration for all girls and women pursuing sports, especially soccer and football.