Vanderbilt’s Sarah Fuller makes college football history with Saturday kickoff
In this image provided by Vanderbilt Athletics, Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller looks on during NCAA college football practice, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Fuller, a goalkeeper on the Commodores’ women’s soccer team, will don a football uniform on Vanderbilt’s sideline and she is poised to become the first woman to play in a Power 5 game when the Commodores take on Missouri. (Vanderbilt Athletics via AP)
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COLUMBIA, Mo (NewsNation Now) — Women’s soccer player Sarah Fuller made history Saturday becoming the first woman to play in a Southeastern Conference or Power 5 football game.
Fuller took to the field as the Vanderbilt Commodore’s place-kicker to start the second half of the game against the Missouri Tigers. Fuller’s kick went 30 yards and was downed at the Missouri 35-yard line.
COVID-19 protocols and restrictions left coach Derek Mason with a limited number of specialists available against Missouri. That’s why he reached out to soccer coach Darren Ambrose for some help.
Fuller, from Wylie, Texas, spent four seasons as a keeper for the Vanderbilt soccer team. She made three saves in helping Vanderbilt win the SEC women’s soccer tournament championship two weeks ago.
Missouri and Vanderbilt were supposed to play each other last month, only to have a combination of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing force the Southeastern Conference to juggle the schedule.
Fuller wore “Play Like a Girl” on the back of her helmet.
Vanderbilt is just 3 of 7 on field goals this season. Only two women have kicked at the FBS level.
The Missouri Tigers beat Vanderbilt 41-0.
