SEATTLE – Seattle University women’s soccer won three major awards at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) postseason banquet. Seniors Jessie Ray and Rachel Bowler were named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, respectively, while Julie Woodward took home Coach of the Year honors.
Ray and Bowler were joined by junior Leahi Manthei on the All-WAC First Team. Seniors Holly Rothering and Kelsey Vogel, along with freshman Kelsey Crosby earned All-WAC Second Team honors. Crosby and Michele Adam were both picked WAC All-Freshman.
Ray, a native of Portland, Oregon, has put up 25 points in 19 games this season. She has tied her career high with eight goals and established a new personal best with nine assists. Ray tied for the WAC regular-season lead with five goals in conference play. She tallied at least one point in each of her last six games, including a two-goal showing at California Baptist on Oct. 24, where she set an SU Division I program record with two goals in 40 seconds. Ray dished out two assists in the Redhawks’ 3-2 double-overtime win against Utah Valley on Nov. 2, including the assist on Paige Malm’s game-winner with 18 seconds left.
Bowler started all 19 games at outside back, securing the backline for the Redhawks. She was vital as SU conceded just nine goals in WAC play, including only four goals against teams that qualified for the WAC Tournament. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native contributed a goal and four assists offensively. Bowler led Seattle U in minutes played with 1,729 this season.
Woodward, in her 23rd season as SU’s head coach, guided the Redhawks to their fifth WAC regular-season crown since 2013. This marks Woodward’s second career WAC coaching honor, as she also took home the award in 2013. She won her 300th career game on Oct. 10. SU has clinched a winning season in 2019, giving Woodward 22 winning seasons in her 23-year tenure.
Manthei posted a career-high 17 points this year, tying her career best with seven goals. The junior from Gig Harbor, Washington, has notched at least a point in each of her last six outings, including a two-goal, one-assist performance against New Mexico State on Oct. 12. She tied Ray and CBU’s Rola Badawiya with five goals to lead the WAC in conference play.
Rothering held down the middle of the field in 2019, keeping SU organized and in control for much of conference action. The senior recorded four goals and an assist in 19 starts. She ranked second on the team with 1,677 minutes played. Rothering, a native of Snohomish, Washington, scored two goals in a win at Chicago State on Oct. 4.
Vogel patrolled the backline at centerback, joining Adam to form a stellar pairing in front of freshman goalkeeper Madison Waguespack. Vogel, a Centennial, Colorado, native, appeared in 17 games, including starts in all eight WAC contests, where Seattle U compiled five shutouts. The senior added a goal and an assist this year.
Crosby burst onto the scene with an impactful rookie campaign at SU. The Spokane, Washington, native collected three goals and three assists in 19 appearances in the midfield. She logged a point in four conference matches and scored the overtime winner at Portland on Sept. 15. Crosby is one of just two true freshmen to earn all-conference accolades in 2019.
Adam played in all but one match and started 14 at centerback, establishing herself as a strong on-ball presence for the Redhawks. The native of Morgan Hill, California, helped SU pitch five shutouts in WAC competition.
Seattle U won the 2019 WAC regular-season title, beating Utah Valley, 3-2 in double overtime, on Saturday night to claim the crown. SU has the top seed in this week’s WAC Tournament and will host a semifinal on Friday at 4 p.m. at Championship Field.