Lakota West鈥檚 Dudukovich caps off special soccer season with Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year award
WEST CHESTER, Ohio (BVM) – By the time all is said and done, Kailyn Dudukovich may go down as one of the best high school girls soccer players from the state of Ohio. Dudukovich, a rising senior at Lakota West High School, is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation for the Class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Last fall, Dudukovich led Lakota West to an undefeated season and a state championship, where she scored the game-winning goal in the state title game with just 13 seconds left. It would be one of 50 goals the soccer standout scored in her junior year, and she deservedly received plenty of recognition for her efforts during the 2019 season. In June, she received one final honor highlighting her special season when she won the Gatorade Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year award.
Both of Dudukovich鈥檚 parents were collegiate basketball players at Butler University. Dudukovich followed in their footsteps on the hardwood, but her main sport has always been soccer, which she has been playing since she was 4 years old.聽
Dudukovich fell in love with the sport early on in her youth, and enjoyed the competitiveness soccer has to offer. The center forward has developed into an elite player and believes her 5-foot-11 frame, vision and finishing ability around the goal are the best strengths of her game.
Throughout her youth, Dudukovich played for Cincinnati United Premier, where she helped her team win the youth club state championship in Ohio six times. The team also reached the US Youth Soccer National Championships in 2017, which was the 17-year-old鈥檚 final year playing with the club.
Dudukovich really began recognizing her talent within the sport while playing for the U.S. U14 and U16 women鈥檚 national teams. During her first two years of high school, rather than playing for Lakota West, the striker instead played for the Cincinnati Development Academy, which prevented her from playing sanctioned high school soccer at the same time.
But this past year, Dudukovich joined the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, which allowed her to play for Lakota West as well. Ultimately, the vast amount of club soccer experience she has already gained has been beneficial in preparing Dudukovich for her future soccer career.
鈥淚 think that all my club experience growing up has given me the foundation for everything that I have accomplished,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淪ome of my skills and technique, my all around understanding of the game, and my confidence comes from that experience.鈥�
While Dudukovich has excelled with her club teams, her first year playing for Lakota West was jaw-dropping. The center forward scored an incredible 50 goals during the course of the season to pair with nine assists. She also helped lead the Firebirds to an undefeated 22-0-2 record, and was a force when it mattered, scoring two goals each in the team鈥檚 state quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship games.
鈥淚t was a great first year of high school soccer,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淲e had a great team and it was a very cool experience to score that many goals.鈥�
But the soccer star will never forget when she scored her 50th and final goal of the season. With just 13 seconds remaining in the state title game versus Anthony Wayne, Dudukovich broke a 1-1 tie with an impressive goal that will go down as perhaps the most important in school history. The Firebirds would hang on to win, claiming their first state title in two decades.
鈥淚t was crazy,鈥� Dudukovich said about the game-winning goal in the state championship. 鈥淭owards the end of the game I was thinking how far we have come this season and that I did not want to go into overtime. The ball came across perfectly and I just took the touch and finished it. I was just so relieved and full of joy and the crowd was crazy. Our school support was amazing and it was just a really cool experience.鈥�
Dudukovich is extremely proud of her team for winning the title, and believes the tight-knit bond her teammates formed with each other throughout the year was a big reason for the championship run. She also takes pride in being a part of something that has meant so much to Lakota West.
The Firebirds will return Dudukovich, among others, for the upcoming season this fall. The 17-year-old believes her team has as good a chance as any to repeat, and also has individual goals in place.
鈥淚 think that we do have the chance to go back to state,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 a new season and we have to prove ourselves but that is our goal. Personally, I always want to improve and hopefully I鈥檒l beat the amount of goals I scored last year. But ultimately my goal is to do what I can for my team so as many goals as my team needs is what I will try to achieve.鈥�
An exciting senior year is on the horizon, but Dudukovich鈥檚 special junior season did not go unnoticed. Shortly after the state championship win, the Lakota West star was honored with the Ms. Soccer award by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.
鈥淚 found out about the award a week after state and it was so cool,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淚t was just such an honor and while winning state is what I cared about most, the award was the icing on top of the cake for such a great season.鈥�
Soon after winning the Ms. Soccer award, Dudukovich was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-American team. As part of the squad, she would get to play in Baltimore with elite talent from across the country.
In June, Dudukovich would receive one last honor recognizing her standout junior season, winning the Gatorade Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year award. For the rising senior, this award and all it stands for made it the most prestigious honor she has won.
鈥淢y coach woke me up with a call and gave me the news,鈥� Dudukovich said about finding out she had won the award. 鈥淚t was just a shock and an honor. The award is so prestigious and it goes beyond just the soccer field.鈥�
Part of why the 17-year-old won the award is indeed due to what she does off the field. In the classroom, Dudukovich carries a weighted 4.78 GPA, and takes pride in her school work while also challenging herself with it.
Dudukovich also has done numerous volunteer work in the past including organizing a 鈥淐oats for Kids鈥� campaign, spending time with the Ronald McDonald House Charities in the Cincinnati area, and volunteering as a date for special needs kids at a local prom. The opportunity to volunteer and help make an impact is important for the soccer star.
鈥淚 just think it鈥檚 really important to step outside of yourself and what you have,鈥� Dudukovich said about volunteering. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to impact the world around you and those who might not have as much as you. It really gives you perspective and helps you grow as a person.鈥�
After her senior year at Lakota West, Dudukovich will go on to play soccer collegiately at Ohio State University. The Buckeyes began showing interest in Dudukovich the summer before her freshman year of high school. She first visited the campus months later and immediately fell in love with OSU.
The 17-year-old officially committed to Ohio State in the spring of her freshman year. She had numerous offers, and strongly considered playing at Duke or Penn State. But ultimately, the Buckeyes won out.
鈥淚 chose Ohio State really because of the culture they have there, the coaching staff, and also the education they provide,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淚 also didn鈥檛 want to go too far from home.鈥�
When Dudukovich heads to OSU in 2021, she will also be going with one of her current teammates, Sydney Jones. The two have been playing together for many years and Dudukovich hopes the chemistry they bring will make a big impact on the program.
鈥淪ydney is an amazing defender and I want to bring my presence in front of the goal so we are both hoping to do as much as we can for the program,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淭he first goal is winning a Big Ten championship and then going from there so I am really excited.鈥�
Dudukovich鈥檚 ultimate goal since she was little is playing professional soccer. The 17-year-old has already accomplished a lot in the sport, and has several years left to further prove herself. But right now, Dudukovich believes her dream is well within reach.
鈥淚 know it will take an enormous amount of hard work, continuous improvement, and time,鈥� Dudukovich said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be hard but it鈥檚 always been my goal and I won鈥檛 stop until I achieve it.鈥�
