Newark Athletics

New Brunswick Athletics

Canice Leary

Leary was the first MVP in program history when the Raptors started a women's soccer team in 1998. She collected 11 points and tied for the team lead with five goals and two game-winning goals that first season. A talented midfielder, she also has the distinction of scoring the first goal in program history, scoring on a penalty kick in Rutgers-Camden's first game against Delaware Valley College (Sept. 21, 1998). In her next game, she had a pair of goals as the Raptors defeated Centenary College, 6-0 (Sept. 24) for the first win in program history. Later in the season, Leary collected the fastest goal at the start of a game in program history, scoring only 30 seconds into a win over the College of St. Elizabeth (Oct. 24).

Leary spent two years at Rutgers-Camden before transferring to Penn State University, earning a degree in Journalism in 2003. Last year she served as an assistant soccer coach at her alma mater, Gateway Regional High School. She earned three varsity soccer letters for the Gators, captured All-Colonial Conference honors as a junior and a senior and was named the team MVP in her final season.

In addition to coaching with the Lady Raptors, Leary has returned to Rutgers-Camden to continue her education.