As part of the GVSU soccer programs most successful senior class ever, Clare Carlson continued to exemplify the moniker of student-athlete with both her level of play on the field and her commitment to hard work in the classroom. A four-time All-American, Carlson anchored the Laker defense through an improbable run to four straight NCAA Division II title games, three of which resulted in winning the title. She was a two-time GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and was an excellent two-way player, finishing her career with 13 goals and nine assists out of the back line of play. 

In the classroom, Carlson was consistently one of the top performers for GVSU, sporting a 3.94 GPA while majoring in Biomedical sciences. The Ada, Michigan native was a CoSIDA Academic All-American and an NSCAA Scholar All-American in each of the past two seasons, demonstrating a mix of proficiency in both the classroom and on the field. Additionally, she has been among the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence honorees in each of the past two seasons.