Shaffer named N.C.'s Gatorade POY in girls soccer

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In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, has announced Alexis Shaffer of Green Hope High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade North Carolina Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Shaffer is the second Gatorade North Carolina Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Green Hope High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Shaffer as North Carolina’s best high school girls soccer player.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award, Shaffer joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, East Brunswick HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).

The 5-foot-8 junior forward and midfielder led the Falcons to the Class 4A East state finals where they fell to Charlotte Hough. Shaffer scored 28 goals and passed for 20 assists through 24 games, including 10 straight contests with at least one goal.

A member of the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Women’s National Team and a 2011 Youth All-American selection for club play by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Shaffer led her club team, the Capital Area Soccer League Chelsea Ladies 94, to the 2011 Under-16 national championship of the Elite Club National League.

Shaffer has maintained a 3.95 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally with the Special Olympics, the Pink Ribbon Club Foundation and as a youth soccer coach and mentor.

“Alexis’ ability to read the game is indeed one of her best strengths— it sets her on such a high level,” said Kevin Todd, head coach of rival Apex High. “I’ve seen her create scoring opportunities on a quick dime and also set up ones for her teammates that really exemplify her in-depth knowledge of the intricate tactical offensive components of the game.”

Shaffer has verbally committed to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at the University of Virginia beginning in the fall of 2013.

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. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Shaffer joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Girls Soccer Players of the Year Caroline Lindquist (2010 – 11, Ravenscroft School), Mollie Pathman, (2008–09 & 2009-10, Durham Academy), Nicole Danford (2007-08, Green Hope), and Nicole Panek (2006-07, Mount Tabor) among the state’s list of former award winners.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 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 playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.