Women's Soccer Adds Five for 2010 Campaign

Photo courtesy: DSPics.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Ray Leone, the Harvard women’s soccer head coach, has announced that five student-athletes will join the Crimson in the fall of 2010.

The program will gain depth in at four positions next season. The Crimson will boast a roster of 27 for the upcoming campaign. Last fall, Harvard posted a 9-7-1 overall mark and a 6-1 record in the Ivy League, en route to the program’s second-straight Ancient Eight crown. The Crimson earned the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament in 2009 where it lost to Boston College in the opening round.

“They are all very coachable and hard working players. I believe overall this class should do very well for Harvard women's soccer,” said Leone. “We expect them all to contribute in a major way during their four-year career and I cannot wait until they arrive in Cambridge to start their journey with the Crimson.”

Kristina Garrido/Midfielder/Newark, Calif./Notre Dame High School Belmont
Played soccer all four years of high school … Captained soccer team as a junior and senior … A four-time West Catholic Athletic League all-league selection … Two-time team Most Valuable Player … Tabbed to the San Mateo County first team as a senior and thrid team as a junior … Two-time Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year at Notre Dame … Attended the Cal-North State Olympic Development Program and Region IV ODP Camps from 2006-2009 … Soccer team was a WCAL finalist and Division III Central Coast Section semifinalist in senior season … Played club soccer with the MVLA Avalanche … Won the Cal-North State Championships twice and reached the Region IV semifinals with the MVLA Avalanche… Valedictorian … National Hispanic Scholar … University of San Francisco Consistent Academic Excellence Award recipient … Named one of San Mateo County’s “Greatest Grads” in the San Mateo Daily Journal … California Scholarship member … National Honor Society member … Student Council Advisory President … Ambassadors’ Club … Volunteered at United Care Residential Senior Home.

Leone says of Garrido, "Kristina plays attacking mid for the MVLA soccer club and Notre Dame High School in Northern California. She is a technically sophisticated player with a dynamic personality on and off the field. She has a deft touch making her an excellent possession and attacking player."

Claudia Haeussler/Defender/Redwood City, Calif./Saint Francis
Three-year member of the varsity soccer team …  Captained soccer team as a senior … First team Palo Alto Daily News selection as a senior … Second team West Catholic Athletic League selection as a senior … Received San Jose Mercury News honorable mention … Scholar Athlete and Team Choice award recipient as a junior … Soccer team was two-time Central Coast Section champions … Played club soccer for the MVLA Avalanche … Reached the Cal-North State Cup finals four straight years, from 2007-2010, winning the championship in 2007 and 2008 … Four-time Certificate of Merit AATG National German Exam recipient … Foreign Language and National Honor Society member … Sequoia Hospital Volunteer … Bok Ranch volunteer, helping special needs kids with therapeutic horseback riding … Nesbit Club Puma afterschool program tutor.

On Haeussler, Leone comments, "Claudia also plays for MVLA soccer club and St. Francis High School. She is an excellent defender and is able to play any of the back four positions. Claudia is an athletic and physically strong presence in the back line. She possesses the kind of intensity you need to be a top flight defender."

Peyton Johnson/Midfielder/Defender/Catonsville, Md./Catonsville
Played soccer all four years at Catonsville … Also competed in indoor and outdoor track … Captained soccer team as a junior and senior … NSCAA Scholar All-American as a senior … NSCAA All-Region selection as a senior … Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year as a senior … Maryland Old-Timers Soccer Association State Player of the Year as a senior … Three-time all-state first team selection … Received all-state honorable mention as a freshman … Named to the All-Baltimore Country first team four times … Named team Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior … Soccer team was regional champions in her sophomore season … Helped Catonsville win program’s first Baltimore County Championship in senior season … National Merit Finalist … National Honor Society member … Spanish and Math Honor Society member … Maryland Distinguished Scholar … Students Sharing Coalition member.

"Peyton plays for Bethesda Dragons and Cantonsville High School in Maryland. Her  superb technical ability and a desire to get better every day make her a special player who can play any position in the back or midfield. Peyton is the type of player that makes everyone around her better. She will bring a high level of energy to the Crimson on and off the field." Leone stated about Johnson.

Elizabeth Weisman/Forward/Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep
Played soccer all four years at Sacred Heart Prep … Captained soccer team as a senior … Named team’s Most Valuable Player all four years … West Catholic Athletic League Freshman of the Year … Two-time All-WCAL first team selection … All-West Bay Athletic League first team as a junior and senior … San Mateo Times all-league first team as a senior … Four-time Palo Alto Weekly all-league first team honoree … Excalibur all-tournament team in 2010 … High school team was Central Coast Section champions in 2009 … Played for De Anza Force ’91 soccer club … Club team won the State Cup three times, the Golden State Soccer League Championship in 2009 and was a Super Group finalist at the Surf Cup … Recipient of the Patricia Keil Student-Athlete Award … Member of the National Math and History Honor Societies … Royal Conservatory of Music level six pianist … Member of the advanced chorus at Sacred Heart Prep.

"Lizzy Weisman plays for Deanza Force and Sacred Heart Prep High School.  She is a smart player who is comfortable on both flanks as an attacking threat. Weisman is a very skillful and quick player with the ability to create chances for herself and her teammates making her a great fit for the Crimson." says Leone.

Jessie Wright/Goalkeeper/Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck
Played soccer all five years at Rye Neck … Captained soccer team as a junior and senior … An all-section honoree as a junior and senior … Named team’s Most Valuable Player as a junior … An all-league selection as a sophomore … National Honor Society member … Area All-State band/orchestra member.

Leone comments on Wright saying, "Jessica Wright plays goalkeeper for the Mamaroneck Panthers Soccer Club and Rye Neck High School. She is an athletic and strong goalkeeper with a dynamic personality. Wright's technical ability and athleticism will add talent and depth to the goalkeeper position."