Besides the talented Vicki DiMartino and Hannah Cerrone there is another Eastern New York player who is performing for a Under-17 Women's National Team, only it's not for the United States. Meet Tatiana Saunders of Rye, N.Y., who has begun playing for the English U-17 Women's National Team.

Saunders was eligible to play for England because her parents are English.

"I always wanted to play for England," she said. "I didn't know they had a team."

Her father Christian discovered England did have a team. Tatiana tried out in the summer of 2008 and made the team.

A veteran of ENY and Region I ODP, Saunders wanted to play internationally for England.

"England is like my home," she said. "I just wanted to play for my country."

Saunders broke her leg last year, delaying her debut. She finally got an opportunity in the first phase of qualifying for the U-17 World Cup in October. Saunders played in two games -- a 7-0 win over Macedonia and a 3-0 victory over Wales.

Saunders said that she "played well. In the 7-0 game I didn't have a lot do."

She said that the English team demanded more of her than just stopping shots.

"The England team likes to use the goalkeeper not as a pass back or a last resort. I have to use my feet a lot."

Saunders' most memorable game was her first international appearance against Macedonia.

"It was an extremely important moment for me," she said. "I was really nervous before the game. . . . I would have felt [bad] if I would have let down England.

"To start the second of three games after coming of that injury was amazing to me."

Saunders will return to England for a scrimmage against Ireland on Nov. 23, then will be back in England and Europe for the second phase in April.

At the end of the rainbow is an opportunity to play in the U-17 World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago next year.

"It would be amazing," Saunders said. "It would be my ultimate goal."

Asked to assess her team's chances, Saunders replied, "We have a very talented group of girls. If we play to our potential, we will do extremely well."

Success certainly is not foreign to Saunders. She played for the White Plains and Briarcliff Killer Bees teams that captured three State Cups. She also has starred for the Rye High School girls team that won the New York State title last year and lost in the Section I final on penalty kicks this season.

"Tatiana is very tall, slender, strong, and she's the best goalie that I have ever coached or seen at the high school level by far," Rye H.S. coach Richie Savage told ESPINRISE.com. "Once she makes a tremendous save, she can punt the ball well beyond midfield, or she can throw ball accurately, like a rocket, to midfield."

Saunders also has performed on the youth level for the Montclair Thunderbolts and Rye Power.

Saunders started playing soccer with her brothers at the age of six.

She loves the sport -- and loves keeping the ball out of the net.

"I love making a save," she said. "Your team is cheering for you when you make a save and the pressure of being a goalkeeper."