University of Vermont Athletics

Harriet Tatro 1985 - Soccer

An outstanding sweeperback for three seasons, Harriet Tatro was the second UVM women's soccer player to be named an All-American. A 2003 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, she also was the winner of the 1985 Semans Trophy for leadership, loyalty and service to the university.

The defensive leader of the Cats, Tatro was usually overshadowed by more offensive-skilled teammates such as UVM Hall-of-Famer Heidi Comeau, who was the first Catamount All-American. Tatro, a native of Easthampton, Mass. who prepped at the Williston-Northampton School, started for three seasons at UVM. Each of her three seasons, the Cats' record improved: 8-5-2 in 1982, 10-6-0 in 1983, and 11-3-1 in 1984.

As a junior, she anchored a defense that allowed just 1.2 goals per game as Vermont won ten games and advanced to the ECAC Tournament. They defeated Villanova in the semifinals before losing in the championship game, 1-0, to nationally ranked William and Mary. During the 1983 season UVM had big wins over Dartmouth, Yale, UNH and Hartwick. In addition to her outstanding defense, Tatro scored one goal during the season.

In 1984, Tatro had an outstanding season and so did the Cats. At mid-season, Vermont was ranked fifth in the country. They had impressive wins at home over #12 Dartmouth and on the road over #6 Cortland State and #10 Boston College as well as a tie at #7 Harvard.The strong regular season earned the Catamounts one of the fourteen berths for the NCAA Division I Tournament. In their first-ever trip to the national tournament, the fourth-seeded Cats lost to the top-seed Harvard, 1-0, in the first round of the New England Regional in Boston.

During the season, Tatro's partner at sweeper back, and fellow co-captain, Kelly DeLuca was lost for the season due to injury. Tatro played a major role in picking up the slack. She also scored two goals and had one assist- one of her goals was the game-winner versus tenth-ranked Boston College. For her efforts, Harriet was named first-team All-American in addition to first-team All-New England. She also received the team's most valuable player award following the season.