Gianna DeSaverio

Kansas State

Sep 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

Position:
Forward
Height:
5-4
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Littleton, Colo.
High School:
Chatfield
Prev School:
University of Arizona

2008 Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week (Sept. 30)
2008 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 30)
2008 second-team All-Big 12

SENIOR (2008): DeSaverio was a second-team All-Big 12 performer, leading the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12 Tournament finals and a 14-5-4 record. She led the Buffs in goals (9) and points (20), and had two assists, three game-winning goals and 57 shot attempts in 16 starts (21 appearances). DeSaverio had a pair of two-goal games, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Oklahoma on Sept. 26, and again in a 3-0 win at Drake on Oct. 24, recording the winner in both contests. She also scored the winner in a 4-0 win over Baylor on Oct. 12. DeSaverio also scored goals against San Francisco, Fresno State, Oklahoma State and Kansas. Her assists came in separate wins against Nebraska, including the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

JUNIOR (2007): DeSaverio made an immediate impact the minute she stepped on the field for the Buffaloes, seeing action in all 22 games, earning 16 starts. She was the second-leading scorer with five goals and two assists for 12 points. She scored her first goal in a Colorado uniform against Utah and got on the board again with the final goal in the 2-0 win over Wyoming. She recorded two game-winning goals, one of which coming in the 3-2 win over Baylor and the second coming in the NCAA First Round win against Hawaii. DeSaverio finished the season as the second leading scorer in six statistical categories for the Buffs: points (12), goals (five), game winning goals (two), shots (38), shot percentage (.132), and shots on goal (22).

AT ARIZONA: Was named First Team All-PAC 10 as a sophomore, leading Arizona with six goals and four assists in 20 appearances. Was also an Honorable Mention Academic All-Pac 10 performer. As a freshman, DeSaverio played in all 22 games, earning one start, as a forward. Placed 10 of her 16 shot attempts on goal, putting three in the net. Recorded her first career assist in 2-1 upset over Princeton and netted her first career goal in 4-0 victory over Penn. Scored a goal and earned an assist in 3-0 win over Oregon State and scored Arizona’s lone goal in a 2-1 overtime loss at Washington State.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Chatfield Senior High School where she played for coach Cindy Cannon. A team captain her junior and senior seasons, DeSaverio was named the team’s MVP both years. She was a four time All-Jeffco pick, and also earned all-city honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. She was All-Jeffco District her junior and senior years. Earned all-region and all-state accolades her junior and senior seasons. DeSaverio was named 2004 Player of the Year, 2004 and 2005 Colorado Player of the Year and was named MVP of the state game in her junior season. She received Gatorade’s Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year award for Colorado. She holds school records for most goals scored by a freshman, career assists and goals scored at Chatfield, where her team was the 2002 State runner-ups, 2003 league champions and 2004 state champions. DeSaverio competed on the Colorado Rush Club team for coach Tim Schulz and they were state champions in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and National Champions in 2006.

IN THE CLASSROOM: DeSaverio is a biology and anthropology major at Colorado, as well as a two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection.

PERSONAL: Born Gianna Marie DeSaverio on Jan. 10, 1987, she is the daughter of Albert and Janet DeSaverio. She has two older brothers, Dominic and Anthony.