“Junior year is when I kind of put both [offense and defense] together, and it’s when I was able to become a consistent defender but also help contribute offensively,” she reflects.

Her emergence couldn’t have been better timed. With Harvard having graduated its top three scorers from the year before and with spark plug Liza Ryabkina injured during the first part of the season, Coskren proved to be a welcome addition to the Crimson’s offense in 2009. But it was back on the blue line where the skater made her biggest impact. Already a leader on the defensive end, Coskren took on even more responsibility when then-senior goaltender Christina Kessler sustained a season-ending injury. Rather than be undone by the injury, Coskren and co-captains Kathryn Farni ’10 and Cori Bassett ’10 helped current sophomore Laura Bellamy assimilate into net, and Harvard didn’t miss a beat, earning home ice advantage in the NCAA tournament.

“Leanna and Cori Bassett really took the lead and showed people what needed to be done on the ice and were shut-down defenders,” tri-captain Kate Buesser says.

Coskren’s efforts did not go unnoticed; she was named a second-team All-Ivy selection, a third-team All-ECAC selection, and a nominee for the Patty Kazmaier Award. The then-junior also garnered an invitation to join the national team for the summer.

Her efforts didn’t escape the notice of her family either. Once her rivals, Coskren’s brothers have become some of her biggest supporters.

“Now it’s completely different,” Nick says. “I think she’s a very talented player...I usually talk to her on the day and the day before games. I’m always telling her to be more offensive...trying to build her confidence. When she was trying out with the U.S. national team, I would text her, ‘You belong there, don’t be intimidated by the other girls.’”

While Coskren still relies on her brothers for guidance and support, she’s become one of the senior authorities in her second hockey family—the Crimson.

“As a goalie, I love her because I know she’s going to take care of the puck,” Bellamy says. “She’s been great with showing the underclassmen the right mentality...just to keep the puck away from the net. Her poise and calm on the ice are going to settle the underclassmen quite a bit.”

—Staff writer Christina C. McClintock can be reached at ccmcclin@fas.harvard.edu.