Tatiana Saunders, The New York A.C. goalkeeper who was named the Gatorade New York High School Player Of The Year

Women's Soccer: GATORADE HONORS NYAC'S TATIANA SAUNDERS

The New York A.C. goalkeeper was named the Gatorade New York High School Player Of The Year

Tatiana Saunders, starting goalkeeper for the 2010 U.S. Women's Open Cup champion New York Athletic Club of the East Conference of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), has been named the Gatorade New York High School Player Of The Year.

This prestigious award distinguishes the Rye High School shot-stopper as New York's best high school girls soccer player and now, she becomes a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May. 

This honor recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement & exemplary character demonstrated - on and off the field. Tatiana has done very well in the classroom and will attend Dartmouth College this September. Saunders recorded 16 shutouts for the 22-1 Rye H.S. squad this past season, allowing five goals in 23 matches, as the team was ranked No. 1 in the ESPN RISE national rankings for six weeks and finished at No. 8.

A two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Tatiana was also named an ESPN RISE All-American, the New York State Class A Player Of The Year and the Journal News Player Of The Year. Tatiana is also a member of the England's Under-19 Women's National Team, and posted four shutouts for England this past fall to help them qualify for the European Championships, which will take place this spring.

The summer before her senior season, she was the goalkeeper for New York A.C. who won the U.S. Women's Open Cup, where she posted a shut-out in the Final as her team defeated Dallas Premier by a 2-0 score. Saunders started seven matches last season in the WPSL East Conference, allowing seven goals while helping NYAC to a 4-2-1 record in those matches.

This summer, NYAC will compete in the Northeast Division of the WPSL East, going up against the likes of defending WPSL Champion Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves, five-time East champions New England Mutiny and former U.S. Women's Open Cup champions SoccerPlus CT. 

The Gatorade Player Of The Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. Tatiana joins recent Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Players of the Year and current & former WPSL stars Crystal Dunn (2009-2010, South Side), Alaina Beyar (2007-08, South Side) and Hannah Cerrone (2006-07, Ketcham) among the state's list of former award winners.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit their official website at http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL): The WPSL is a 60-plus team national league for the Summer 2011 season and is the largest women's soccer league in the world. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL's mission is to provide the highest level of soccer in our effort to: bring affordable & quality family entertainment to the community; display positive role models for our youth; while, being a stepping stone for aspiring professional & international-level players.