HOCKEY star Sophie Bowden, who left Taunton School in 2012 to take up a sports scholarship in America, has completed a remarkable sporting double.

For the second season running, her University of Connecticut hockey team finished as the nation’s top side after defeating Syracuse 1-0 in the 2014 NCAA National Championship on Sunday.

UConn – known as The Huskies – capped their remarkable campaign with 14 straight wins and eight consecutive NCAA Tournament victories.

Sophie, now 20, was spotted by the UConn’s hockey coach while playing for Taunton School in an indoor tournament and was invited out to visit the university.

Having been supported through the complicated application process by the school as part of its American Universities programme, Sophie then received and accepted the offer of a full sports scholarship.

It covers the cost of tuition, accommodation, food, flights and clothing for the duration of her four-year degree course, which will be worth well over $150,000 by the time she completes her course.

Taunton School’s Headmaster, Dr John Newton, said: “Sophie has done it again!

“I am so delighted that Sophie has taken her hockey to such great heights. She has done the school great honour as well as her university.”

“This also shows how effective our American Universities initiative has been – wonderful news.”