SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Seattle U women's soccer earned significant recognition in the West Coast Conference postseason awards, highlighted by Kailee Wilson being named Midfielder of the Year and Vivien Villarreal earning Co-Freshman of the Year honors.
Wilson, a senior from Mililani, Hawaii, turned in the best statistical season of her already historic career. Her nine goals and 24 points both established new career highs while leading the Redhawks in each category. She ranked third in the conference in goals and second in points.
"Kailee is the perfect example of humility," said Head Coach Julie Woodward. "She is one of the hardest-working players I’ve coached, always putting the team first and staying committed to getting better."
The Midfielder of the Year honor adds to an impressive list of accolades for Wilson this season. She was named WCC Offensive Player of the Week twice and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention recognition a season ago.
Joining Wilson on the All-WCC First Team was U'i Kaaihue. The fifth-year senior from Maui, Hawaii, capped a historic Redhawk career with seven goals and seven assists for 21 points. She ranked second in the conference in assists and third in points, finishing just behind Wilson. Kaaihue was also Seattle U's lone representative on the WCC Preseason Team and earned both WCC and TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week honors during the season.
"U’i is the player who makes our team tick," Woodward added. "Her love for the game is contagious, and she is simply a joy to watch."
Villarreal wasted little time making her mark on First Hill during her freshman campaign, recording three goals and two assists for eight points. She ranked fourth on the team in goals, helping fuel a Redhawk attack that led the conference. In addition to earning Co-Freshman of the Year honors, she was selected to the WCC All-Freshman Team.
"Vivian plays beyond her years," said Woodward. "She’s so fearless in 1v1 situations, and a constant threat going forward. Her personality, competitive edge, and ability to make things happen make her an incredible fit for our team."
Seattle U also landed two selections on the All-WCC Second Team, with goalkeeper Kassidy Kirgan and midfielder Kyla Schuster earning recognition.
Kirgan, a senior from Missoula, Montana, posted a 7-4-4 record in goal, recording 41 saves and four shutouts. Schuster, a junior from San Dimas, California, put together one of the most productive distribution seasons in program history. Her 11 assists led the conference and ranked fifth nationally during the regular season, marking the second-highest single-season total in Seattle U history.
"Kass is steady, fearless, and reliable. She brings a level of consistency and confidence to our team that is invaluable," said Woodward. "Schuster has had an outstanding year for us. Her motor never stops, and leading the conference in assists speaks to just how productive she has been."
Jaelyn Byeman and Katie Piburn rounded out Seattle U's individual postseason honors, earning All-WCC Honorable Mention selections.
Byeman provided a steady presence along the backline throughout the 2026 campaign while also making an impact offensively, recording her first collegiate goal and an assist. Piburn contributed across the field, posting career highs with five goals and one assist for 11 points.
"Jaelyn has anchored our back line all season while also contributing a goal and a couple of assists. She continues to mature and develop into a terrific player," said Woodward. "Piburn has been incredibly consistent for us. She is a solid presence on both sides of the ball and someone we can always count on."
Seattle U's success extended beyond the field, with five Redhawks earning recognition on the WCC All-Academic teams. Piburn and Wilson were named to the WCC All-Academic Team, while Sophie Hanson joined Kirgan and Schuster as Honorable Mention selections.
"I'm incredibly proud of Kailee and Katie for earning Academic All-Conference honors," Woodward added. "Both are dedicated student-athletes who work just as hard in the classroom as they do on the field. They are great examples of what it means to represent our program."
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