Katherine Sheeleigh Named Ivy Player of the Year

The Harvard women’s soccer team may not have ended the season with an Ivy League championship trophy, but that didn’t keep the Crimson from taking home its share of hardware.

Earlier today, the Ivy League office announced that Harvard co-captain Katherine Sheeleigh was voted the 2010 Ivy League Player of the Year, making her the first Crimson player to be selected for the honor since 1999.

“It was awesome," Sheeleigh said. "I was just really excited, really surprised when I got the call from [coach Ray Leone]. It was just a big shock."

The forward concluded her Harvard career with a stellar senior campaign, leading the Ancient Eight in both points and goals with 24 and nine, respectively. The co-captain’s nine goals this season give her 31 on her collegiate career, good for fifth in Crimson history. Sheeleigh added an assist in tonight's 3-1 win over Fairfield.

In addition to being named the Ivy League Player of the Year, Sheeleigh was selected to the All-Ivy First Team for the fourth consecutive season, making her just the second player since 2000 to accomplish such a feat.

"I think it was great; I think it was really deserving," Leone said. "She’s such a complete player. She does so much more [than scoring]—she defends the best players on corner kicks, which forwards never do. She’s a complete player."

Sheeleigh is joined on the first team by three Crimson teammates—juniors Melanie Baskind and Lindsey Kowal and sophomore Alexandra Conigliaro—which gives Harvard the most first-team selections in the conference.

Baskind finished second to Sheeleigh on the team in both goals (seven) and assists (four). Kowal anchored the Crimson defensively, starting in each of Harvard’s 16 contests, while Conigliaro chipped in with four goals, including two game-winners.

Three other Crimson players—senior Kerry Kartsonis, junior Rebecca Millock, and freshman Peyton Johnson—were awarded an All-Ivy honorable mention.