As a freshman soccer player at Syracuse High, Caroline Stringfellow made so many waves that she received an offer and subsequently committed to play at Brigham Young University. Just a year later, she has yet another reason to be considered one of the best rising soccer stars in the state.
Stringfellow, who just finished her sophomore year, won the Gatorade Utah Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award, the beverage company announced Thursday. She is the first player from Syracuse to receive the award for girls’ soccer.
Stringfellow learned of the award after receiving a text message from her coach, Taylor Allen, at about 7:45 a.m.
“I thought it was so cool,” Stringfellow told The Salt Lake Tribune. “There’s so many great soccer players in Utah, so I felt really honored that I got it.”
In her sophomore season with the Titans, the midfielder scored 22 goals and added 16 assists. The Titans, ranked No. 4 in the state, reached the semifinal round of the 6A tournament, but lost 1-0 to Lone Peak High.
“Caroline has led our team in scoring every year, and has taken our program to the top of the state and national rankings,” Allen wrote in an email to The Tribune. “She’s irreplaceable, it’s an honor to coach her. We are looking forward to the next two seasons with this great girl and team.”
Stringfellow was named the Tribune Player of the Year in 2017, and was named Miss Soccer by the Deseret News last November.
Stringfellow said that when she first started high school at Syracuse, she wanted to help turn the girls soccer program around. She feels proud being the first girls’ soccer player from her school to win the award, but also credited her coaches, including her father, who have helped her along the way.
“I’m so happy,” she said.