ARLINGTON, Texas - Kait Raffensperger has been named the 2024 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference, the conference announced on Thursday. Raffensperger was also joined by seven other Redhawks as All-WAC selections.
A senior out of Redmond, Wash., Raffensperger is no stranger to the conference's highest honor for a defender. Not only was she named the Preseason Co-Defender of the Year prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, she was also the 2023 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. This will also be the 4th straight season that she was named to a postseason All-WAC team, being named to the Freshman Team in 2021, Second Team in 2022, and made it back-to-back seasons as a First Team selection after being named to it in 2023.
Also being named to the First Team was the Redhawk's leading goal scorer this season in Caroline Penner. The junior out of Olympia, Wash., cracks the First Team for the first time in her career after making Second Team in 2022 and 2023. She scored eight goals in the regular season which was second in the conference.
Seattle U had four representatives on the Second Team, with Hallie Bergford, Kailee Wilson, U'i Kaaihue, and Alana Lamb all being honored. This is the first postseason selection for Bergford and Lamb, while Wilson and Kaaihue have both been named before.
A pair of first year standouts were also voted as some of the best in the league as Sydnee Smith and Kyla Schuster were named to the Freshman Team.
While I believe even more young women in our program were deserving of making an all conference team," said head coach Julie Woodward. "I am so incredibly proud of those who did make it. It is a great testament to their hard work, dedication and pursuit of excellence that they have put in all season long. They truly embody the character and values of this program. It is such an incredible honor to coach such talented and committed Individuals. I look forward to seeing continued success by all of them at the conference tournament."
The Redhawks will be back in action this Sunday, Nov. 3, when they kick off the WAC tournament vs Utah Tech in Abilene, Texas. Seattle U, which ended the season as the 3rd seed, beat the Trailblazers in the regular season, 2-1, back in early October. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ starting at 6pm PT.
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A senior out of Redmond, Wash., Raffensperger is no stranger to the conference's highest honor for a defender. Not only was she named the Preseason Co-Defender of the Year prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, she was also the 2023 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. This will also be the 4th straight season that she was named to a postseason All-WAC team, being named to the Freshman Team in 2021, Second Team in 2022, and made it back-to-back seasons as a First Team selection after being named to it in 2023.
Also being named to the First Team was the Redhawk's leading goal scorer this season in Caroline Penner. The junior out of Olympia, Wash., cracks the First Team for the first time in her career after making Second Team in 2022 and 2023. She scored eight goals in the regular season which was second in the conference.
Seattle U had four representatives on the Second Team, with Hallie Bergford, Kailee Wilson, U'i Kaaihue, and Alana Lamb all being honored. This is the first postseason selection for Bergford and Lamb, while Wilson and Kaaihue have both been named before.
A pair of first year standouts were also voted as some of the best in the league as Sydnee Smith and Kyla Schuster were named to the Freshman Team.
While I believe even more young women in our program were deserving of making an all conference team," said head coach Julie Woodward. "I am so incredibly proud of those who did make it. It is a great testament to their hard work, dedication and pursuit of excellence that they have put in all season long. They truly embody the character and values of this program. It is such an incredible honor to coach such talented and committed Individuals. I look forward to seeing continued success by all of them at the conference tournament."
The Redhawks will be back in action this Sunday, Nov. 3, when they kick off the WAC tournament vs Utah Tech in Abilene, Texas. Seattle U, which ended the season as the 3rd seed, beat the Trailblazers in the regular season, 2-1, back in early October. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ starting at 6pm PT.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U women's soccer and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.