Former University of North Carolina women’s lacrosse All-America Kellie Thompson Shiley passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 16, at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center from complications following the delivery of twin baby girls on Friday July 13.
"This is a very sad time for our Carolina family,” says head coach Jenny Levy. “Any loss is difficult, but the circumstances surrounding the loss of Kellie are heartbreaking. We send our prayers to her family: her parents and brother, her husband, Ryan, her two-year-old son, Landon, and her brand new twin girls, Ryan Paige and Blake Lillian Shiley. After graduating from Carolina, Kellie moved back home to Annapolis, the community where she grew up and had lifelong friends. She brought with her a new family, her Carolina family, and integrated the two. I know both will be there to support her family and each other during these tough times and in the future.
“Kellie was a great lacrosse player and left her mark in the record books at Carolina,” Levy continues. “Although her on-field accomplishments were celebrated, the quality of person she was is what we will remember the most. She was incredibly passionate about anything she did. She had the capacity to develop deep and meaningful relationships and was incredibly loyal to anyone she called a friend. She expected a lot of herself and always pushed to make herself and those around her better. She was a role model and leader to the many people she touched throughout her life. Her enthusiasm, laughter, love of life and good times will never be forgotten. She cherished her family and friends, she was passionate about the game of lacrosse and she loved North Carolina. Words cannot express our sorrow. Kellie will be missed by many. "
While at Carolina, Shiley was a three-time All-America who earned first-team honors in 2002 as a senior. During the ’02 season, she became Carolina’s all-time leading scorer with 222 career goals, a record that stood for 10 years until broken in 2011. She remains UNC’s record-holder for most goals in a game (eight), points in a game (10) and goals in a season (62, in 2002).
Teaming with fellow All-Americas Christine McPike, Porter Wilkinson and Lindsay Stone in the 2002 senior class, Shiley helped lead the Tar Heels to the first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship in school history. Later that season, she set an NCAA Tournament record with eight goals in a first-round win over UMBC. Carolina eventually reached the NCAA semifinals in 2002.
Shiley was named third-team All-America in 2000, second-team in 2001 and first-team in 2002. She grabbed a spot on the 2001 All-ACC squad and the 2002 All-ACC Tournament team. She was a member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll as well. She earned her degree in business in ’02.
She played with the United States Elite Team in 2003 and ’04 as the squad prepared for the World Cup. She was most recently employed in pharmaceutical sales.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to a college fund being set up for the benefit of her children (details via the family), Anne Arundel Medical Center Mobile Blood Bank or the Anne Arundel Medical Center NICU with gratitude for their immense support of Kellie’s twins during their mother’s illness.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis, Md., on Monday, July 23, at 9 a.m. Burial will follow at Stevensville Cemetery in Stevensville, Md. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday at noon at the Kent Island Yacht Club, Chester, Md.
Arrangements provided by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Chester, Md.
To send a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. Kellie Cathleen Shiley, please click here.
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