Vanderbilt may turn to women’s soccer player to kick Saturday

Women’s soccer player Sarah Fuller has practiced with the Vanderbilt football team, and coach Derek Mason said Wednesday she’s a good option to be the Commodores kicker Saturday against Missouri.

“She’s really good with a soccer ball, she seems to be pretty good with a football so we’ll see,” Mason said. “We’re keeping all options open right now, and we’ll get a chance to see what she does on Saturday if given the opportunity.”

Mason said his Commodores

( 0- 7) are having health issues with their specialists. Vanderbilt has declined to comment on any players who’ve either tested positive for COVID- 19 or are in quarantine. Junior Pierson Cooke is 3 of 7 on field goals this season, and junior Wes Farley is the backup.

Fuller, a senior from Wylie, Texas, made three saves last weekend as Vanderbilt upset top- seeded Arkansas 3- 1 in women’s soccer to capture the Southeastern Conference Tournament tile.

Mason said he reached out to soccer coach Darren Ambrose, a close friend, to see if Fuller could work as an option. He saw Fuller kick in practice Tuesday both off the tee and kicking a couple field goals.

“I just wanted to see how strong her leg was, and I can tell you she’s got a strong leg,” Mason said. “We’ll see what that yields. ... She seems to be a pretty good option.”

No woman has appeared in an SEC football game or for any Power 5 team.

Katie Hnida was the first woman to score in the Division I level Aug. 30, 2003, with two extra points against Texas State- San Marco after starting her career at Colorado.