Feb. 12, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - All-American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (Seymour, Conn.) capped off 2008 by attending the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich, Switzerland on January 12. Naeher received an invitation for her Golden Glove performance in the U-20 World Cup.
At the star-studded event, Naeher met some of the best soccer players in the world including former Brazilian great, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, best known by his nickname Pelé.
Later in the evening, the men's and women's Players of the Year were announced as Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil's Marta Vieira da Silva who took home the women's award for the second straight year.
"The event was amazing," said Naeher. "It was so much fun to be in that environment surrounded by the best soccer players in the world. It was an unbelievable experience, and I'm very happy that I had the privilege of being part of it."
For more information on Penn State women's soccer, please visit www.GoPSUSports.com.