For a list of the other Gatorade State Girls Soccer POYs, click here.

THE WINNER: Veronica Latsko

THE BASICS

School: Peters Township (McMurray, Pa.)
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 5-foot-8

Athletic achievement: Also the 2011-12 Gatorade State Player of the Year, she led the Indians to a 24-1 record and a third straight Class AAA state title this past season. Latsko scored 40 goals and passed for 22 assists, including four goals and an assist in the postseason. A two-time Pittsburgh Post Gazette Player of the Year and an All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Latsko concluded her junior year with 111 goals and 64 assists in her prep soccer career.

Academic excellence: Latsko has maintained a 4.70 weighted GPA and is a Summa Cum Laude student.

Exemplary character: A member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, she has volunteered locally as a middle school tutor, as a youth soccer coach and as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit the March of Dimes.

THE PRAISE

“Veronica Latsko is an easy choice,” said Seth Lehman, head coach of Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), which lost to Peters Township in the state title game. “She’s incredibly dynamic and a threat every time she touches the ball.”

THE FUTURE: Latsko has verbally committed to Virginia.