MAKING THE CASE: Jaelin Howell for 2021 Chipotle Young Female Player of the Year
Midfielder Capped Off Standout Season With NCAA National Championship Presented by Chipotle
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While 2021 was a year like none other in collegiate soccer, with many teams playing two seasons in one calendar year due to the pandemic-impacted 2020 campaign, Jaelin Howell was a consistent and dominant presence in the midfield, earning her a nomination for the 2021 Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award.
Because no Youth National Team matches were played in 2021 to the global pandemic, players were eligible for the 2021 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year if they were 23-years-of-age or younger and a) played in a senior WNT match this calendar year or b) played in the 2020 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship. Players can win the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Award only once.
While nominees are selected by U.S. Soccer’s technical staff, fans will now have the opportunity to vote on select Player of the Year Awards, with the fan vote comprising 15% of the total vote. Voting for the awards started Monday, Dec. 6 at 11:00 a.m. ET and closes on Dec. 12 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The winners will be announced throughout the month of December.
- VOTE NOW: Fan Voting for Player of the Year Awards
Making the case for Jaelin Howell as the 2021 Chipotle Young Female Player of the Year:
- The 22-year-old joined the U.S. Women’s National Team for its January training camp and the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. She made the SheBelieves Cup roster and earned her one cap this year at the tournament, playing 24 minutes off the bench against Argentina in the tournament finale. It was her second career cap.
- Howell debuted for the USWNT in November of 2020 in the Netherlands, becoming one of the first two players -- along with her childhood teammate Sophia Smith -- born after the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup to play for the National Team.
- Howell recently wrapped up a banner season for Florida State, helping the Seminoles to a 21-1-3 record and the third NCAA Championship in program history. The senior midfielder scored the game-winner in the national semifinal vs. Rutgers to send FSU to the championship match and converted her attempt in the penalty kick shootout to help clinch the national title.
This is Howell’s second nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year and first since 2017.