Star-Telegram names its girls soccer co-players of the year

Presenting the Star-Telegram’s girls’ soccer co-players of the year:

KENNEDY FULLER

SOPHOMORE

SOUTHLAKE CARROLL

Fuller was named the state Gatorade Texas Player of the Year for the second straight season as well as taking home the national Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023.

The sophomore, who reclassified as a junior in 2023, scored 55 goals, added 26 assists and had 136 points in 24 games for the Dragons.

She had nine game winning goals, 11 hat tricks and scored multiple goals in 17 games.

Fuller had 26 goals and 15 assists as a freshman in helping Carroll reach the Class 6A state championship game, a 4-0 win over Rockwall. Fuller scored three goals and was voted the championship game MVP.

The North Carolina commit was voted Class 6A all-state and was the District 4-6A MVP for the second consecutive season. Carroll started 2023 with a 29-0 record and was the No. 1 team in the state before losing to Flower Mound Marcus 1-0 on an own goal in the regional final, one game away from the state tournament.

Fuller missed the Dragon’s final three playoff games while helping the U.S. U-16 National Team sweep all of its games in a tournament in France where Fuller was named the MVP.

THERESA McCULLOUGH

SENIOR

GRAPEVINE

McCullough wrapped up 2023 with a career-high 33 goals including both goals in a 2-1 state semifinal win over Smithson Valley and the only goal, on a penalty kick, in the Mustangs 1-0 win over Frisco to claim the Class 5A state title.

McCullough was the 5A title game MVP.

It was the sixth state tournament appearance for Grapevine (26-3-2) and the fourth title game.

McCullough, who is headed to Baylor in the fall, led the Mustangs to three state tournament appearances during her career at Grapevine and fell just short of the 100 goals/100 assists club. If not for the COVID-shortened 2020 season McCullough would have eclipsed that mark as well.

McCullough will go down as one of the all-time best girls soccer players in the state after posting 95 goals, 96 assists and 286 points, all program records, for Grapevine. McCullough had 20 assists and 86 points in 2023.

The Mustangs were 20-0-3 during McCullough’s freshman year when the playoffs were canceled. During the past four seasons, Grapevine has a 93-9-8 overall record and 50-2-3 in district.