Sarah Fuller becomes first woman to play in NCAA Power 5 Conference college football game

Photo courtesy: Vanderbilt Athletics

History — or her-story, if you will — was made on Saturday at the University of Missouri.

Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play in an NCAA Power 5 Conference college football game. The goalkeeper on Vanderbilt University’s soccer team was recently asked to join the football team and dressed for Saturday’s game against the Tigers.

Glass = Shattered

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From in between the goalposts to endzones ⚽️ x 🏈

𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 just became the first woman to play in a Power 5 college football game. @SarahFuller_27 #NCAASoccer | 🎥 @SECNetworkpic.twitter.com/JJQNc5jFK7

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 28, 2020

Fuller entered the game for the second half kickoff and executed a squib kick effectively, eliminating the possibility of a return.

The Power 5 is comprised of the five largest college athletic conferences — the SEC (Southeastern Conference), ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12.

“I think it’s amazing and incredible. But I’m also trying to separate that because I know this is a job I need to do and I want to help the team out and I want to do the best that I can,” Fuller told the school’s website on Friday. “Placing that historical aspect aside just helps me focus in on what I need to do. I don’t want to let them down in any way.”

"I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to, you really can. And if you have that mentality all the way through, you can do big things."

Sarah Fuller is an inspiration 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rUi1hJYap9

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 28, 2020

The first woman to score a point in American college football game was Liz Heaston in 1997 for Willamette. Six years later, Tonya Butler of West Alabama became the first woman to kick a college field goal.

Vanderbilt (0-8) lost to Missouri 41-0, but Fuller’s mark on history was the story of the game.