Natalia Gaitan

Classroom

Gaitan has been a member of UT’s Dean’s List each of her six semesters, including a perfect 4.0 GPA in Fall 2010. Last fall, Gaitan became the first Rocket to earn a spot on the NSCAA Scholar All-America Third Team.

Character

Gaitan was recently named a tri-captain for the 2012 season. Gaitan is a tireless worker and will be counted on to be a pillar for the backs with her experience. She has worked hard on her distribution and ball-winning in the air.

Community

Gaitan and the Toledo women’s soccer team hold itself to high academic and athletic standards, while also showing a commitment to being positive role models off the playing field. Over the last couple of years, Gaitan and the Rockets have embarked on a long-term partnership with a local organization called Mom’s House. Mom’s House is a place geared to helping low-income, single moms graduate from high school, technical school and college. Their mission is to prepare young mothers for the challenges of balancing educational goals with responsible parenting to help break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children.

Competition

Gaitan has started 56 of 65 matches in her first three seasons at Toledo. Gaitan has appeared in the starting lineup each of the last 53 contests. She recently served as a captain for the Colombia National Team at the Summer Olympics in London. The two-time second-team All-Great Lakes region honoree has been part of two MAC regular-season titles in 2010 & ‘11 and a MAC tourney crown in ‘11. Last summer, she was a co-captain for the Colombia National Team that qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup for first time ever.