Watching the Harvard women’s soccer team, fans—and opponents—saw something they hadn’t seen from the Crimson in the recent past: a quick forward speeding down the middle of the field, cutting through the heart of opposing defenses, and launching shots whenever she had a foot of breathing room.

The flash of lightning was freshman forward Katherine Sheeleigh, who headlined a class of outstanding freshmen for new coach Ray Leone, lit a match under a previously-stagnant Harvard attack and led the team in scoring en route to the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year award. The freshman was also voted onto the All-Ivy First Team, joining sophomore defender Lizzy Nichols.

With the arrival of Sheeleigh and fellow freshman Gina Wideroff, Leone was able to move Erin Wylie and Christina Hagner—two of his best players, both of whom saw nearly all the minutes on the front line in ’06—to the midfield. In turn, Nichols moved from the midfield to anchor a stingy defensive line.

“One of our goals was to integrate the freshmen and do it early,” junior captain Nicole Rhodes said. “We wanted to let them know that on the field, they weren’t freshmen.”

Rookie nerves weren’t a problem for Sheeleigh, who felt confident shooting at will—her 80 shots were tops in the Ivies. With eight goals for 16 points, the freshman led the team in scoring.

The Crimson’s Sept. 21 matchup with nonconference foe Central Connecticut State served as Sheeleigh’s coming-out party, as the freshman recorded a hat trick that included the game-winning goal. She also tallied game-winners against Northeastern and New Hampshire.

Sheeleigh proved her mettle in key Ivy games as well. She outshined eventual league Player of the Year Diana Matheson in Harvard’s 4-2 win over Princeton.

With a Rookie of the Year award already under her belt, the Crimson’s lightning flash will look to light up the Ivy League yet again in 2008.

—Staff writer Emily W. Cunningham can be reached at ecunning@fas.harvard.edu.