Women's Soccer

Brizard on Heffner: “Leigh is a mainstay on our back line and we’re looking for her to provide some leadership back there. She’s a solid defender and we are looking for her to score a few goals as well. No matter how the game is going, I can always look to her to remain calm and focused.”

In 2011 (Junior): Leigh continued to assert herself as one of the conference’s best defenders in her junior season, garnering All-OVC Second Team honors for the second straight season. She helped anchor the Golden Eagle back line while finishing among the team leaders in playing time, seeing more than 1,600 minutes on the season. She started and played in 18 games and scored one goal. Her first career goal was an important one, coming when she headed in a Sarah Gawthrop corner kick in overtime, providing the golden goal and giving Tech a 1-0 victory over Austin Peay on Oct. 16. She took six shots on the season, four of which were on goal, and finished with a shot percentage of .167 and a shot-on-goal percentage of .667. She was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 18.

In 2010 (Sophomore): As a sophomore, Leigh started 16 of 17 matches and played nearly 90 minutes in all of her appearances. Leigh’s hard work paid off as she was named to the All-OVC second team and received the team’s Defensive MVP award. She also received Defensive Player of the Week honors after playing 200 minutes in weekend matches against Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois, where she anchored the defense as the Golden Eagles won their first conference match of the season against SEMO. Against EIU, she helped Tech hold the Panthers to one goal in securing a 1-1 tie through 110 minutes of play. She was named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll as well as the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

In 2009 (Freshman): Leigh was a mainstay on defense her freshman year, as she tallied 1764 minutes of playing time. She appeared in every Golden Eagles contest, and had five shots on the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Leigh comes to Tennessee Tech from Arvada, Colo., where she played high school soccer at Faith Christian High School. Through three seasons, she has been named Faith Defensive player of the year three times. A second-team all-state selection in 2008 Leigh was team captain, and led her team to a state championship in 2008.

PERSONAL: The daughter of Scott and Susie Heffner…born February 19, 1991…full name is Leigh Nicole Heffner…majoring in biology & health sciences.