May 27, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - Two incoming freshmen, Rachel Quon and Alina Garciamendez-Rowold, for the 2009 women's soccer season were named Gatorade State Players of the Year. Quon, who earned the Illinois crown, was also distinguished as the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
A 5-foot-3 senior midfielder and defender from Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Ill., Quon had recorded 15 goals and 10 assists for Lake Forest at the time of her selection as the Scouts (17-2-1) advanced to the Lake Forest Regional final against Deerfield High. An experienced international player, Quon was a starting defender last fall on the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-17 Women's National Team, which won the silver medal at the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand. A current member of the U.S. Soccer Federation U-20 Women's National Team player pool, she is also a two-time Youth All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Quon is the second -straight Gatorade National Player of the Year to be signed by Stanford, as the Cardinal inked 2008's honoree, Teresa Noyola or Palo Alto High School.
Alina Garciamendez-Rowold was Texas' Gatorade Player of the Year winner, and like Quon, has extensive international experience. The Ursuline Academy graduate began with the U.S. U-15s and U-16s, but permanently transferred to the Mexican side, where she played with the U-20s in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Garciamendez-Rowold also led Ursuline to four straight state championships and her club team, Dallas Texans, to a national championship in 2008.