Rye's Saunders, Bellizzi Earn Rare Honor

Rye's girls soccer program has featured teammates who were Division I recruits in the past. Six years ago, Alex Singer and Greer Barnes played for the Garnets before going on to play for Virginia and West Virginia respectively.

One honor that eluded Singer and Barnes was high school All-American, only because Rye played a spring schedule at that time. According to Rye coach Rich Savage, that was an important reason why the Garnets started playing in the fall four seasons ago.

Juniors Tatiana Saunders and Lia Bellizzi took full advantage of the change, becoming a rare pair of high school teammates to both make the 2009 NSCAA/adidas Girls High School All-America Team.

"I don't know if that has ever been done," Savage said of teammates earning All-American honors. "It says a lot for the program because it is very unusual."

"It's really great to make all-American," said Saunders, a first-time honoree who gave up only 0.37 goals per game. "It's such a huge honor. To share that with a girl I've been playing with and training with since I was eight, it was great. I've seen how far she's come."

Bellizzi, who plays for the U.S. U-17 team, led Rye with 21 goals and assisted on 12 others for a total of 54 points (two per goal, one per assist) as she earned all-American honors for a second consecutive season. She is currently fourth on Rye's all-time scoring list with 154 points, giving her a chance to pass Alexandra Rimmer (201 points) for the top spot as a senior.

"Lia is magic with the ball," Savage said. "When the ball is on her foot, no one knows which direction she is going. It's fun to watch. She can get out of a jam. She distributes the ball nicely and when there is a big play to be made, Lia can make it."

The versatile Bellizzi actually plays a defensive position for the Albertson club team, though she is expected to create offense from there as well. It is unusual for a smaller player like Bellizzi, who chuckles when admitting she is slightly under 5-foot-3, to play on the defensive end.

"I play outside back, which is crazy," Bellizzi said. "They put me there to go forward and run at people. I love it now."

Saunders also plays for a high-level travel program, the Montclair Thunderbolts, but she earned more attention for her play with England's U-17 national team. This past October, she helped the English team win the European Cup Phase One in Macedonia and returned for an exhibition against Ireland in November. Next for the team will be Phase 2 in Italy this April. A victory there would earn them a spot in the 2010 U-17 World Cup. She is eligible to play for England because both of her parents are from there and she actually considers it home as well.

"England, I view it as my home and my country," Saunders said. "It's a huge honor to represent England. Especially if I come up with win. It is amazing to sing the national anthem before games. Every step, every save, is for your country. It's a lot of pressure, but it's an amazing feeling to represent such a huge thing.

Saunders is a weapon for Rye in more than just her ability to stop opposing shots. She is strong and accurate enough in kicking the ball that she had five assists as a junior. She also plays a key role in organizing the team on the field.

 "We always hear her from the back," Bellizzi said. "She gives the defense confidence."

"She has cat-like reactions, "Savage said. "She has tremendous reactions to the ball. She's very strong. She is very long and lean and strong and she is technically one of the best goalies I've ever coached. She can throw the ball to mid-field, making a hard throw. She can kick it well over mid-field."

Though Saunders may have drawn more attention for her travels abroad, both players gained the attention of college coaches. Saunders will most likely commit to a high-level Division I program later this year and Bellizzi has already chosen Virginia, where she is preceded by former Rye star Singer.

Both are also focused on bringing another state championship to Rye. They won the title as sophomores, but were eliminated by Eastchester in the Section 1 championship game. Technically, the teams tied, but Eastchester won the opportunity to advance to states on penalty kicks. When both were freshmen, Rye lost the state championship game on penalty kicks.

"It's frustrating that it ends that way," Savage said.

Although both players have bigger things on the horizon, Savage said that Saunders and Bellizzi were every bit as devastated as their teammates when they came up short. They are just part of a deep group of juniors who will take one last shot at states next fall, along with Catharine Greer, Kaelyn Lucas, Amanda Bennincasa, Carter Talgo and Maddy Chabot.

"Definitely, we really want it, " Bellizzi said. "We have so many girls with so much talent. We have to bring it home one last time."