Maria Valderas Class: Junior Hometown: Catonsville, Md. High School: Seton Keough Height: 5-5 Position: M

PENN STATE CAREER
2007 (Freshman): Started all 17 games in her first collegiate season to lead the freshman class in games played and games started...Posted eight goals and four assists...Totaled a season-high four points (2 goals, 2 assists) at Northwestern (3/14)...Also netted two goals in victory over Loyola (3/31)...Led the freshman class with 12 ground balls and 11 draw controls...Caused four turnovers.

HIGH SCHOOL
As a senior at Seton Keough H.S., was selected First Team All-City and All-Conference and named IAAM All-Star...Earned Academic All-American honors in junior and senior seasons...Named team MVP, First Team All-City and All-Conference, and IAAM All-Star as a junior...Earned four varsity letters in lacrosse, three in basketball, and one in volleyball...Selected Most Valuable Defensive Player on basketball team as a junior...President of the National Honor Society (2004-06)...Honored in Who's Who Among High School Students...Received gold honor roll, silver honor roll, and scholar athlete recognition (2002-06)...Played club lacrosse with Hero's in Baltimore.

BACKGROUND
Maria Erin Valderas was born on May 7, 1988 in Baltimore, Md. to parents Mark and Susan Valderas...Has a sister, Jackie, who played basketball at Loyola College (Md.), and brother, Michael...Father, Mark, played basketball at Princeton and Loyola College.

QUOTING COACH ISIDOR
"Although Maria is a midfielder she is one of our strongest one-v-one defenders and will have a large responsibility in our defense as a possible match-up defender. Maria gained valuable game experience last year and we are looking for her to step up this season with her consistency on both ends of the field."