Kennedy Fuller wins 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year

Southlake Carroll standout Kennedy Fuller was surprised with the news Chicago Red Stars Forward and former Gatorade POY, Mallory Swanson.

Stars collided on Friday when North Carolina commit and Southlake Carroll (Texas) standout Kennedy Fuller received the news that she had won the 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award.

With her teammates and coaches by her side, Kennedy was greeted on a video chat by Chicago Red Stars Forward and 2014-2015 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year Mallory Swanson, who broke the exciting news…

Watch the full video below:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o4jP4X2mWC0

Kennedy beat out nearly half a million other student-athletes who play girls soccer nationwide, an impressive achievement in the long line of Gatorade POY winners.

And her accomplishments go beyond the soccer pitch, too. She’s a National Junior Honor Society member and the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. She has also volunteered on behalf of G&J Ministries, which helps those in need, and Count Your Blessings, which is a faith-based retail store.

Through it all, she has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom and plans to graduate school a year early.

Congrats, Kennedy!

Meet the nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Girls Soccer Player of the Year

These 24 standouts will be honored as nominees for national Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is pleased to announce the 2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Girls Soccer Team!

These 24 standouts will be honored as nominees for national Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The winner and three finalists will be revealed on July 31 during an on-demand broadcast. This year will feature top athletes in 29 boys and girls sports awards categories as well as special honors like Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, Rising Star and Play of the Year. 

All national nominees must register to provide show information and receive important updates regarding the show. To register, click on the “REGISTER” button on the event website.

Here are the nominees…

2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Girls Soccer:

Sami Allen

F, Noble High School (Oklahoma) — SR

Lindsey Antonson

F, Wilsonville High School (Oregon) — SR

Natalie Bain

D, Notre Dame Academy (Kentucky) — SR

Caroline Betts

F, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tennessee) — SR

Kayla Budish

F, Brookfield Central High School (Wisconsin) — SR

Ivey Crain

F, Pinecrest Academy (Georgia) — SR

Ami Davis

D, Yorktown High School (Virginia) — JR

Halle Engle

F, Mechanicsburg High School (Pennsylvania) — SR

Elise Evans

M, Woodside High School (California) — SR

Erynn Floyd

G, Wilton High School (Connecticut) — SR

Gaby Gonzalez

D, Staples High School (Connecticut) — SR

Riley Jackson

M, Blessed Trinity High School (Georgia) — SO

Ellie Johannes

F, Northwest Christian High School (Arizona) — JR

Emma King

F, Manchester High School (Ohio) — SR

Kelsey Major

F, St. Mary’s Dominican High School (Louisiana) — SR

Samara Nunn

M, Parkersburg South High School (West Virginia) — SR

Jordan Nytes

G, Grandview High School (Colorado) — SR

Ella Raimondi

M, Villa Maria Academy (Pennsylvania) — SR

Melina Rebimbas

M, Rutgers Preparatory School (New Jersey) — JR

Abby Reisz

G, Upper Arlington High School (Ohio) — SR

Eliza Rich

M, Lake Norman Charter (North Carolina) — SR

Ella Sanchez

M, Ballard High School (Kentucky) — JR

Sydney Watts

F, Aquinas High School (Kansas) — JR

Amelia White

M, Homestead High School (Indiana) — SR

Girls HS soccer player breaks Texas single-season record with 112 goals

Celina High School junior Taylor Zdrojewski broke the Texas girls high school soccer single-season goals record Tuesday.

Taylor Zdrojewski of Celina High School etched her name into the Texas girls high school soccer record book Tuesday, scoring her 112th goal of 2021.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Zdrojewski, who is just a junior, is averaging four goals per match and scored all seven of Celina’s goals in its Class 4A Region II semifinal shutout win over Bullard High School. Zdrojewski has scored 25 goals in Celina’s four playoff games so far.

Zdrojewski broke the single-season record of South Hills High School’s Esmeralda Gonzales, who scored 109 goals in 2016. The national record for goals scored in a single season is 130, set by Kassi Ginther of Summit Christian Academy in Missouri in 2017.

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“There was so much adrenaline going into that shot,” Zdrojewski said of her record-breaking goal. “I didn’t think I was going to get (the record) tonight. I’d missed so many shots before, so I took it as just another shot.”

According to MaxPreps, Zdrojewski currently has 116 goals to her name this season and has scored at least four goals in all but five of Celina’s matches. Zdrojewski also has 19 assists and 251 total points.

Celina, which is 23-1-1 this season, faces Henderson High School in the Class 4A Region II finals Thursday night.