KANSAS CITY - The Western Athletic Conference has announced the 2016 women's soccer postseason award winners, as selected by the league's eight head coaches. WAC regular season champion Seattle U and second-place CSU Bakersfield each led the way with five players on the All-WAC teams, with both teams placing four players on the first team and one on the second team.
Seattle U's Brie Hooks was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Stephanie Spiekerman was named Defensive Player of the Year. CSU Bakersfield midfielder Sophie Freeman was named Freshman of the Year and CSUB's Gary Curneen was named the Coach of the Year.
Hooks, a senior from Maple Valley, Wash. (Tahoma HS), was the focal point of the offense as Seattle U went undefeated in conference play, earning its fourth-straight WAC regular season title. She led the team with three assists and scored two of her team-high seven goals during WAC play, while firing 25 shots. The transfer from Colorado scored four game-winning goals for the Redhawks on the year.
Spiekerman, a junior from Seattle, Wash. (Bishop Blanchet HS), led a Seattle U defense that went unbeaten in WAC play, allowing just five goals on its way to a fourth-straight WAC regular season title. The Redhawks' defense picked up three shutouts and allowed only 18 shots on goal in seven WAC matches.
Freeman, a freshman midfielder from Bakersfield, Calif. (Garces Memorial HS), led all freshmen in WAC play with five goals and 10 points. She led the ‘Runners in goals and shots during WAC play, and tied for the team lead in points. Her play helped the ‘Runners finish second in the WAC and set the school Division I record for wins in a season with eight.
Curneen led the ‘Runners to a 4-2-1 record and a second-place finish in the WAC standings, CSUB's highest finish since joining the WAC. The ‘Runners, picked to finish fourth in the WAC Preseason Poll, set a school Division I record with eight wins on the season. In his third season with CSUB, Curneen has a 10-14-3 record in WAC play.
First Team All-WAC
Brie Hooks, Sr., F, Seattle U
Kelsey Mothershead, So., F, UMKC
Aminah Settles, So., F, CSU Bakersfield
Karli White, So., F, Seattle U
Sabrina Delgado, So., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Breanna DeWaal, Fr., MF, Utah Valley
Natasha Howe, Sr., MF, Seattle U
Maja Green, Jr., D, CSU Bakersfield
Stephanie Spiekerman, Jr., D, Seattle U
Kalli Suesue, Sr., D, Utah Valley
Jen Padilla, So., GK, CSU Bakersfield
Second Team All-WAC
Andreya Barrera, Jr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Sarah Bonney, Fr., F, UT Rio Grande Valley
Maria Monterroso, Sr., F, Grand Canyon
McKenzie Cook, So., MF, Grand Canyon
Sophie Freeman, Fr., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Emily Herndon, Sr., MF, UMKC
Rosalie Sittauer, Jr., MF, Seattle U
Madison Cox, Jr., D, Grand Canyon
Niekie Pellens, Sr., D, UMKC
Abby Jameson, Sr., D, Utah Valley
Blakely Fraasch, Jr., GK, Grand Canyon
Offensive Player of the Year: Brie Hooks, Sr., F, Seattle U
Defensive Player of the Year: Stephanie Spiekerman, Jr., D, Seattle U
Freshman of the Year: Sophie Freeman, Fr., MF, CSU Bakersfield
Coach of the Year: Gary Curneen, CSU Bakersfield