Keri Cavallo named Player of the Year

In its 30th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, the Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, announced on Feb. 5 that Keri Cavallo of South Side High School was its 2014-15 Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Cavallo is the third Gatorade New York Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from South Side 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 Cavallo as New York’s best high school girls soccer player.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Cavallo 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-5 senior forward scored 19 goals and passed for nine assists this past season, leading the Cyclones (15-4-1) to the Class A state final. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Cavallo was named both the Class A Player of the Year and the Long Island Player of the Year.

Cavallo has maintained an A average in the classroom. A peer tutor at her school, she has volunteered locally on behalf of youth soccer programs.

“Cavallo is a great player,” said Janine Bizelia, head coach at Mepham High. “She’s fast and tenacious with good vision and tremendous touch on the ball. She’s the type of player who always makes something happen.”

Cavallo will attend Yale University this fall, where she will play soccer.