Leitner's energy carries Quakers

There are many different sides of women’s lacrosse goaltender Emily Leitner.

In addition to being a member of the Penn Astronomy Club and a Daily Pennsylvanian videographer, the Darien, Conn., native is a food enthusiast.

Leitner and two of her housemates and teammates, Erin Brennan and Allison Tatios, even take teamwork to the kitchen.

“Well, Erin’s really the cook to be honest — I kind of just help out,” she said. “We make a really good flatbread with pear and gorgonzola. We whip some stuff up in the kitchen, we get pretty creative.”

It’s Leitner’s enthusiastic personality that has helped her become a standout goalie for the Quakers.

“She always creates this sense of energy — even when we’re down, she tries to lift us back up,” teammate Carolyn Pollard said of Leitner. “She’s such an integral part of the defense. I could not imagine being without her.”

In her first season starting in goal, Leitner has made 61 saves with a save percentage of .462. She initially started as a field player, but made the full-time switch to goal in high school. Leitner’s stick skills and athleticism have helped anchor the Penn defense this season.

“She’s really ready to own that position this year, and she’s a great leader,” Penn coach Karin Brower Corbett said. “She’s real confident with the ball, so we can use her a lot in transition.”

Her success comes as no surprise, since being in the net is in her blood — her father Chuck was a goaltender for the Penn men.

Leitner and her teammates will be tested, however, as they take on No. 2 Northwestern Sunday in Evanston, Ill.

The Wildcats have been atop the world of collegiate women’s lacrosse for the past several seasons, dropping only two regular season games in the last three years.

Back in 2008 when the current seniors were just freshmen, Penn handed Northwestern its first lost in 36 consecutive games. But the Wildcats retaliated, as they knocked Penn out of the Final Four in both 2008 and 2009.

“I know Northwestern talks about us being a rival. We’re 1-8 with them, so I guess it’s a little flattering that they think we’re their rival,” Corbett said. “But I think for that rivalry, we’ve got to come up with some more wins.”

To do so, the No. 8 Quakers’ young corps of attackers have been practicing Northwestern’s high-pressure defense.

“Only two of our attackers have really seen or played against this team, so it’s going to be an eye-opening experience for some of them,” Corbett said.

Leitner’s defense will have its hands full, as well. Although the Wildcats graduated Katrina Dowd, who netted 77 goals last season, junior Shannon Smith has stepped into her shoes with 37 goals thus far.

“Every time we play them it’s so intense and close,” Pollard said. “They’re just one of those teams that we have always been so close to beating, yet can we never quite pull it off.”

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