VICTORIA - Kathleen Leahy, a star field hockey and soccer player and cross country runner at Oak Bay High School, has committed to play for the University of Victoria women's field hockey team.  

Although she is an outstanding Metro soccer player - and was highly recruited by Tracy David, the UVic women's soccer coach - Leahy has chosen to follow her field hockey passion at the intercollegiate level.

Leahy was on the Oak Bay field hockey team that finished fourth at the 2010 BCAAA High School field hockey tournament. She has also played on numerous Vancouver Island Regional field hockey teams, as well as, the U-16 and U-18 B.C. rep field hockey teams.  Recently, she was a member of the Shawnigan team that captured the UVic indoor tournament and the Island Selects team that placed first at the B.C. Senior Indoor tournament.

On Jan. 17, the Canadian national field hockey coaches recognized Leahy's outstanding talents and selected her to the junior national team that will travel to San Diego in March to play test matches against the U.S. national U-19 team.

For her amazing athletic and academic (5.0 GPA) feats, Leahy was recently chosen as the recipient of the A Channel Amazing Kid Award valued at $1,000 which she will use to cover some of her tuition costs at UVic.

"Kathleen is a terrific student and is a great kid," said Vikes women's field hockey coach Lynne Beecroft. "I am tremendously pleased that Kathleen has chosen to stay in Victoria, attend UVic and play for the Vikes women's field hockey team."  

"She has a tremendous ability to read the game, is a fierce competitor and is very fit," Beecroft said. "She will be a solid defender for the Vikes for years to come."