ARLINGTON, Texas – The Western Athletic Conference announced its All-WAC women's soccer teams and major awards as selected by the league's 12 head coaches. Utah Valley swept three out of four major awards as Heather Stainbrook was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year and her teammate Jenna Shepherd the WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Their coach Chris Lemay earned the WAC Coach of the Year honors. Seattle U's U’l Kaaihue was named WAC Freshman of the Year.
Stainbrook, a junior midfielder from South Jordan, Utah, was second in the WAC in goals (13), points (32) and tied for seventh in assists (6). Stainbrook is currently ranked ninth nationally in total goals (13) and eighth in total points (32). Stainbrook recorded a season high in shots (10) against Southern Utah on October 27 and recorded a season high in goals (2) that same game. Stainbrook closed out the regular season with six multiple-point performances.
Shepherd, a redshirt junior defender from American Fork, Utah, helped anchor the Wolverines defensive line that only conceded one conference match loss this season and one tie. Shephard and the Wolverines defense allowed only 11 goals during WAC play and 22 overall for the season.
Kaaihue, a midfielder from Maui, Hawaii, started in only seven of 14 matches, accounting for a total of 17 points with her season high in goals (2) against Tarleton State. Kaaihue recorded a total of 30 shots with 12 on goal throughout the season giving her a .400 shot on goal percentage. Kaaihue is the second player from Seattle U to earn WAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Lemay led Utah Valley to a 9-1-1 record in conference play and captured the program's fifth WAC title. Lemay has led the Wolverines to three straight 13-win seasons along with the Wolverines having a .763 winning percentage this season, which is the highest it has been in his tenure as head coach.
2022 Women’s Soccer Postseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Heather Stainbrook, Jr., F, Utah Valley
Defensive Player of the Year: Jenna Shepherd, R-Jr., D, Utah Valley
Freshman of the Year: U’l Kaaihue, Fr., MF, Seattle U
Coach of the Year: Chris Lemay, Utah Valley
2022 First Team All-WAC
Jessica Berlin, Sr., GK, Seattle U
Michele Adam, Sr., D, Seattle U
Sydney Bushman, Jr., D, Utah Valley
Jenna Shepherd, R-Jr., D, Utah Valley
Lourdes Bosch, Sr., MF, California Baptist
U’l Kaaihue, Fr., MF, Seattle U
Hannah Lee, Jr., MF, Utah Valley
Heather Stainbrook, So., MF, Utah Valley
Gianna Gourley, Jr., F, Grand Canyon
Loma McNeese, Jr., F, NM State
Faith Webber, So., F, Utah Valley
2022 Second Team All-WAC
Makenna Gottschalk, Gr., GK, NM State
Taylor Summit, Jr., D, California Baptist
Reese Mendenhall, So., D, Grand Canyon
Landy Williams, R-Sr., D, NM State
Kait Raffensperger, So., D, Seattle U
Gracie Knutzen, Jr., D, Utah Tech
Caroline Penner, Fr., F, Seattle U
Karli Nyland, Jr., F, Utah Tech
Julianna Carter, Sr., F, Utah Valley
Leah Pirro, R-Fr., MF, Grand Canyon
Xitlaly Hernandez, Sr., MF, NM State
Kaylee Coatney, Jr., MF, Seattle U
Freshman All-WAC Team
Jena Johannes, MF, NM State
Sofia Beerworth, MF, NM State
Sydney Johnson, MF, NM State
U’l Kaaihue, MF, Seattle U
Haley Richardson, MF, Utah Valley
Leah Wolf, GK, Utah Valley
Aj Loera, F, Grand Canyon
Caroline Penner, F, Seattle U
Mila Bettinelli, F, Tarleton
Taylor Nelson, F, Utah Valley
Whitney Wangsgard, D, Southern Utah
Ella Carmody, D, Utah Tech