Harkness Named Canisius Female Athlete of the Year

Women's soccer midfielder Lizzy Harkness has been named the 2025-26 Canisius Female Athlete of the Year, athletic department officials announced on Friday.

Harkness was selected following a fan vote on GoGriffs.com. Other finalists included Ella Bourque (volleyball), Ella Forcucci (women's lacrosse), Shariah Gailes (women's basketball), Ella Johel (softball) and Daphne Mead (women's swimming and diving).

With Friday's announcement, Harkness becomes just the second women's soccer to be named Canisius Female Athlete of the Year and the first since Sylvia Kowalski was recognized in 2010.

A native of Bolton, England, Harkness garnered All-MAAC Third Team distinction after playing 1748 out of a possible 1750 minutes for the Golden Griffins this past season. A Preseason All-MAAC selection, she was one of just two players to start all 19 games for Canisius, chipping in three goals, highlighted by the game-winning marker in a 3-2 triumph against Iona on Sept. 27.

In the postseason, Harkness provided a calming presence in the middle of the park, helping guide the third-seeded Griffs to the program's second appearance in the championship game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship and first since the 2010 season.

She converted both of her opportunities in penalty shootouts during Canisius' postseason run, including the decisive tally in the Griffs semifinal round shootout victory over Quinnipiac. For her efforts, Harkness was named to the MAAC All-Championship Team for the second time in her career (2022).

In the classroom, Harkness earned MAAC All-Academic Team accolades for the third straight season. She also garnered College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors for the first time in her collegiate career.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Lizzy Harkness: M; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#8 Lizzy Harkness
: 5' 9"; Senior
: M

Players Mentioned

#8 Lizzy Harkness

Players Mentioned

#8 Lizzy Harkness