Oct 23, 2024
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- Just by taking the field, Carolina Ascent FC’s Stella Spitzer is already breaking records.  “Yeah, I've seen what the best look like at 14, 15, 16, and we're looking to have Stella here," said Philip Poole, head coach of the professional women’s soccer team.  Spitzer made her debut at forward last weekend, becoming the youngest player to appear in the USL Super League.  Charlotte FC secures shutout win in last regular season match, 3-0 "It's been like a fun experience because I have all of the older players to guide me,” Spitzer said. “They are kind of all mentors for me, and I just think that they support me really well, but on the other side, it's fun being the youngest because I'm always being challenged."  At just 14 years old, the Columbus, Ohio, native has been some major adjustment to playing at the pro level, when most players her age are still playing club.  “I think adjusting to the speed of the play,” Spitzer said. “Everybody likes one-two touch in the middle, and on the wide I have to play quick and I have to be smart instead of just outrunning everybody or beating them with one skill like I could in club."  There's also an adjustment from the coaching staff, trying to balance her ability with her age.  "We have to remember how old she is and we have to remember there's different things off the field that we have to be very, very cognizant of,” Poole said, “but on the field, her teammates and coaching staff hold her accountable just like anyone else."  But unlike everyone else, Spitzer is just a freshman in high school.  "So after training, I can go home and do my school work,” she says. “If we have a lift, I'll do it after lift. It doesn't take long but it's still very rigorous."  Spitzer is technically an amateur, playing at the pro level, which keeps intact her college eligibility.  "Players like Stella, it's not even the college eligibility piece, isn't really that important to her,” Poole said. “Stella's 99.9 percent going to miss out college altogether. She's already at the professional level at 14. The next step will be to sign a full professional contract ... She has a very clear pathway and a very clear journey to the top." 
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