Jones, Sweeney And Hutchins Named To All-WCC Teams
11/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 11, 2009
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Three members of the Gonzaga University women's soccer team were awarded All-West Coast Conference honors, the conference announced Wednesday. Sheridan Jones earned All-WCC second team honors while Elle Sweeney received honorable mention and Emily Hutchins was placed on the All-Freshmen team.
"I am very excited about Sheridan, Elle and Emily being recognized by the WCC," stated Bulldogs head coach Amy Edwards. "Sheridan's play in the midfield all season long played a huge part in our eight wins. Elle was our most consistent player this season while serving as our leader on the back line. Emily scored some key goals for us during conference play and she showed why she has a bright future ahead of her at Gonzaga. "
Jones picks up her second consecutive All-WCC selection after earning first team accolades last season. The midfielder and pre-season All-WCC pick finished tied for the team-lead with four assists and added two goals to close out the season with eight points. This season the Hillsboro, Ore. native moved into a couple of Gonzaga's top-10 record books this year, finishing her junior season tied for third on the all-time assists list with nine, fourth in career shots with 115 and tenth in all-time points with 23.
Sweeney earns her first career All-WCC accolade after emerging as one of the conference's top defenders after leading the Bulldogs backline that featured two freshmen along her side for most of the season. The Highlands Ranch, Colo. native recorded one assist while controlling a defense that produced four shutouts and a 6-2 record at home in 2009.
Hutchins becomes the seventh Gonzaga player in the past six seasons to earn All-Freshmen team honors after she scored all three of her goals during conference play. The Seattle, Wash. native earned her way into a starting role midway through the season and didn't disappoint, finishing tied for third on the team in goals and also adding one assist to close out her first season at GU with seven points.
Gonzaga has now had at least three All-WCC selections in every season since 2002. The Bulldogs posted eight wins and 21 goals in 2009, both improvements from a season ago, while playing a schedule that featured eight opponents that went on to earn berths into this year's NCAA Tournament.
For the third straight season the University of Portland posted an undefeated conference record and for the third straight season the Pilots were rewarded with the Player of the Year and the Coach of the Year honors. Portland senior Michelle Enyeart took home the conference's top honor, while Pilots' Head Coach Garrett Smith earned the league's top coaching accolade. Santa Clara senior Jordan Angeli was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year, while Portland's Kendall Johnson and Santa Clara's Allie Vernon shared the league's Freshman of the Year award.
