![Watching a small group scrimmage, Ben Lundt, St. Louis City SC goalkeeper and founder of Lundt Pro Soccer Training, shouts words of encouragement to players on Sunday, April 26 n the Lafayette grass soccer field. “The idea behind [the event] was to bring the professional soccer players closer to the community because usually people only get to see us on TV or in the stadium. [Families] actually having the opportunity to have their kids on the field with us is the most important aspect,” Ben Lundt said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6823-1200x800.jpg)
![In celebration of winning his second straight state title in the 215 weight class, junior Carter Brown backflips before leaving the mat. Brown won his bout against junior Kobe Rhymes of North Kansas City High School by fall in just 41 seconds. "Carter does what Carter does. We expect [success] out of him and his goals are bigger than the state championship," coach Sam Ritchie said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2784-1200x800.jpg)
Howard earns Gatorade Player of the Year honors for stellar soccer season
Rising senior Rylee Howard takes the ball down field as a Nerinx Hall player defends from behind during the Class 4 girls soccer Sectional game on May 25 at Nerinx Hall High School. The Lancers fell 0-1 on a corner kick with just over five minutes left in regulation.
July 26, 2021
Varsity girls soccer player Rylee Howard was named Girls Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year on June 15, 2021. She is the first athlete in school history to be chosen as the Gatorade Missouri Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
Considered the most distinguished award in high school sports, Gatorade honors players for their “athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field,” according to its webpage.
Howard said she was excited and honored to have been recognized.
“I was nominated my freshman and sophomore year for this award, even then, I knew it was a huge honor and how hard it was to receive it. I had a mindset going into junior year with what I wanted to achieve with the team and myself, with one of those things being Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year,” Howard said.
Howard scored 41 goals and passed for 12 assists during the 2021 season, helping the girls soccer team to an 18-6 overall record including their first District title in 10 years.
Participating in a virtual training camp with the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Women’s National Team earlier this spring, Howard is ranked as the nation’s No. 62 prospect in the Class of 2022 by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Howard has received over 30 scholarship offers from NCAA Division I schools across the country. However, she gave a verbal commitment in August 2020 to attend the University of Wisconsin.
“Coach (Melissa) Schroeder and Coach (Ryan) Butchart have been there for me from the beginning of the season and on. I really couldn’t have accomplished this goal without their support and the support of my teammates who truly helped me achieve this award. I am extremely thankful for such a great coaching staff and environment on the Lafayette varsity team,” Howard said.
She was also named the All-Metro Player of the Year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
