Garrison is First Rookie of the Year in CU History

Yesterday morning, a new era for Columbia field hockey began as midfielder Julia Garrison was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

Garrison, from Virginia Beach, Va., snatched the award away from a pack of first-year Princeton Tigers. Princeton won the league title outright last weekend, ending the hopes of three other teams to share in the championship.

The Tigers have won 13 out of the last 16 Ivy League titles and had taken each of the last two Rookie of the Year awards until Garrison stepped in.

Garrison enjoyed Ivy League Rookie of the Week awards twice this season and becomes the first Columbia player to win the award in the history of the program. She was also the only Lion to be named to All-Ivy League second team.

The freshman led Columbia in goals this season with five and assisted on two others, giving her a season point total of 12. Garrison also ended the season with 44 shots on goal, 14 more than any other teammate.

Garrison was not alone in season-ending awards for Columbia this year. Junior goalkeeper Gena Miller and sophomore defender Megan Davidson were two of the eight Ivy League stars who earned unanimous first-team All-Ivy League honors. Miller led the league in shutouts with five on the season and had the lowest goals against average out of any goalkeeper in the league. Davidson chipped in on offense, scoring a goal and setting up two of her teammates, in addition to her defensive responsibilities this season.

The Lions ended their season in a tie for second place with a 5-2 record in the Ivy League and an 11-6 record overall. They will continue to look to their young leaders, exemplified by Garrison, to continue the program’s recent success into next season and beyond.