Strong and steady: Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers honored as 2023 Utah Valley Girls Soccer Player of the Year
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- Lone Peak players celebrates with junior Samantha Sellers (center) after she scored a goal during the 6A championship game against American Fork at America First Field in Sandy on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers shoots a shot during the 6A championship game against American Fork at America First Field in Sandy on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers (left) battles a Skyridge player for the ball during the Region 3 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers tries to head the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game against Farmington in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers kicks the ball during the 6A championship game against American Fork at America First Field in Sandy on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers (left) and sophomore Kate Fuller (right) celebrate with senior Brooklyn Dowdle after she scored a goal during the 6A quarterfinal game against Farmington in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers kicks the ball during the 6A semifinal game against Layton at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers traps the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game against Farmington in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
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- Lone Peak junior Samantha Sellers kicks the ball during the game against Olympus in Highland on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.
How do you stand out on a team loaded with elite players?
The Lone Peak girls soccer squad certainly fit that description in 2023 with gifted athletes at just about every position who contributed to the team’s impressive run to the 6A state title.
Junior Samantha Sellers, however, stood out for the Knights by being incredibly consistent through adversity and focused on team success throughout the entire season.
“I was well aware of Sam’s ability coming in but she took probably the biggest jump from her sophomore to junior year,” Lone Peak head coach Shantel Jolley said. “She became the engine of our offense. If she was not playing well, we usually struggled offensively because she creates so many opportunities — for others and herself.
“She was such a selfless player that she was like the epitome of our whole theme this year. She led our team in assists and was second in goals. From her stats alone, it’s clear she was a big part of our success offensively.”
Her breakout performance and direct impact on the Knight success earned Sellers the distinction of being named the Daily Herald’s 2023 Utah Valley Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“I’m very grateful,” Sellers said. “I’m on a team full of amazing players. It means a lot to be recognized.”
She felt like her job for Lone Peak was pretty straightforward.
“I think my role on this team was to do whatever it takes to score goals, whether that was setting up teammates for their shots or taking my own openings,” Sellers said.
Jolley said that seeing the junior excel was a highlight for the Knight coaching staff because her purpose was doing what the team needed her to do.
“It’s been fun to see her want to create chances for her teammates,” Jolley said. “She cared more about winning than getting her own stats. That can be rare these days. She was the most consistent player on our team by far.”
The reality, however, was there was a point in the spring where Sellers had to make a decision about how much playing for Lone Peak really meant to her and what she would be willing to endure to do so.
“I separated my shoulder and tore my labrum back in May,” Sellers said. “I thought about having surgery then but I knew we had unfinished business from last year, so I really wanted to play the high school season. It was more difficult to play with an injury. I had to wear a big brace and I separated it again in our last regular season. But there was no chance I was going to sit out any of it.”
She said she would’ve loved to have been fully healthy but contributing to such a strong campaign made the sacrifices worth it.
“It was harder to play with that pain but I was supported by amazing teammates,” Sellers said. “I didn’t want to miss out, so that made it easier for me to push through toward our end goal of winning it all. When we did win state, with all the adrenaline, I didn’t even think about my shoulder.”
Despite the injuries, Jolley said Sellers used her skills to put pressure on opposing defenses in multiple ways.
“Sam has this ridiculous shot where she can cut around a defender and curve it in,” Jolley said. “But she was also such a threat on the side, getting to the end line and crossing it in. It was her bread-and-butter move. There were teams that had the goal of stopping us getting to the end line but it seemed that no matter what Sam found a way to get around, get crosses off and put in dangerous balls.”
Jolley pointed to the 6A championship win over American Fork as an example of how Sellers got the team on track and eventually scored twice because of it.
“In the finals, Sam created multiple chances from the outside and I actually told the girls at halftime that Sam was going to stop doing that if they didn’t finish them,” Jolley said. “She played two or three perfect crosses in and I don’t know how we didn’t score. In the second half, she ended up with two goals with girls creating the same chances for her. They realized how hard she worked to create opportunities for them and were willing to do it in return.”
Sellers said she feels like her biggest strength on the field is her desire to succeed.
“I’m the type of player who wants to do whatever it takes to win,” Sellers said. “I see the field well with the ball at my feet. If I see an opening, I’m going to take the advantage by either passing it to a teammate or taking it. I feel like I’m equally strong with both feet and I’m an accurate scorer, but I’m always looking to improve.”
Soccer has been a big part of her life for a long time and Sellers said she can’t imagine it being any other way.
“I’ve loved soccer ever since I was little,” Sellers said. “I’ve been playing since I was 4-years-old. I love everything about it and can’t get enough of it. What I love most is that it allows you to be so creative on the field. I love the process of working hard and getting better. I’ve always been so competitive and wanted to win at everything. It makes everything better when you are surround by people you love, your best friends.”
Jolley said that while the junior certainly upped her game on the field, she also added a key element to the team by being herself.
“She was fairly quiet as a sophomore, which is pretty common, but this year her personality really started to show,” Jolley said. “She is actually one of the funniest, goofiest kids that we have on the team. She made up a stupid song she would sing when we were running. That personality turned her into a leader. She was good on the field but cared for the other girls and was a fun leader.”
Sellers explained that she likes being around people and having a good time, both on the field and off of it.
“I love being with friends and family,” Sellers said. “I’m very social. I love spending time with people, doing things like playing basketball, pickleball or swimming.”
She is headed to play soccer for Utah State when she completes her high school career, where she is still considering what she wants to study but she is considering business.
Before that, however, she gets a chance to come back as part of the strong Lone Peak senior class that will look to defend their title in 2024.
“We are returning a lot of starters and have players who are ready to step up,” Sellers said. “I think we are going to be just as motivated to go win it again.”
The expectations are high but Jolley believes Sellers will be ready to face them.
“It’s hard to think she could get better,” Jolley said. “But with who she is and her soccer IQ — which is just phenomenal — I think she will continue to grow. I’m excited to see it.”
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