SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga women's soccer team announced 10 additions to next season's roster Wednesday. This is the largest recruiting class for the Zags' head coach Chris Watkins.
 
"As a staff, we are excited and proud to have, what is really, our first full recruiting class finally get to campus," Watkins said. "With the signing of three high school All-Americans, along with ECNL and US Soccer Development Academy experience, the future is bright!"
 
Lauren Elwer
F | Eagle, Idaho | Bishop Kelly High School | Boise Thorns FC
Elwer is a 5-7 forward, coming to Gonzaga from Eagle, Idaho. She attended Bishop Kelly High School, and capped off a stellar campaign for the Knights helping the team to a No. 15 national ranking in 2018, and a 64-game winning streak from 2016 to 2018. Elwer finished as the all-time career goal and assist leader in Bishop Kelly program history. She was a Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist in 2017, and the 4A Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Elwer was a three-time First Team All-State selection and a three-time First Team All-Conference selection.
 
She performed impressively in her classes, finishing with a 4.14 GPA and being a part of the National Honor Society.
 
"I chose Gonzaga for lots of reasons," Elwer said. "I love the sense of community, the coaching staff, and think it's the perfect size school. I also know people who have gone to Gonzaga and have never heard a bad thing about it. I love the staff and I'm excited to play with such amazing players who seem like great people on and off the field."
 
Watkins on Elwer: "Another incredible goal scorer in this class. Lauren has great speed, balance and understands where to be and how to finish."
 
 
Erin Healy
F/M |San Diego, Calif. | Academy of Our Lady of Peace | Rebels Soccer Club
Healy comes to Gonzaga, after a successful career at Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego. She recorded 20 goals and assisted on eight throughout the 2018 season. At the Southern California State Championships, she scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Healy was also named All-League First Team her sophomore and junior years.
 
Healy also comes to GU with a strong academic background, maintaining a 4.2 GPA off the field, with the intention of majoring in education to be an elementary school teacher.
 
Healy expressed her excitement about becoming a Zag, "I chose Gonzaga because of the sense of community I felt each time I visited the campus. I instantly felt comfortable with the coaching staff the first time I met them and I'm really excited to be a part of the program!"
 
Watkins on Healy: "Erin is special with the ball at her feet. She glides with the ball and has the technical ability to really make things happen for us."
 
 
Kacy Johnston
M | Aurora, Colo. | Grandview High School | Colorado Storm/Colorado Rapids Youth Club
Johnston will join the Zags after graduating from Grandview High School. She has enjoyed tremendous success over the past few years in Colorado. She has been a midfielder on two state championship teams, and has been named Academic All-State.
 
In the classroom, Johnston boasts a 4.2 GPA and is a AP Scholar. She is a three-time Academic Letter Recipient. She would like to major in Biology at Gonzaga.
 
"I chose Gonzaga because, I love how it is similar to my home and the atmosphere is extremely welcoming," Johnston said.
 
Watkins on Johnston: "Kacy is a possession midfielder who understands time and space and has the ability to really help us build as we move forward."
 
 
Madison Kemp
F | Camas, Wash. | Camas High School | FC Portland ECNL
Kemp arrives at Gonzaga following an impressive career playing for Camas High School in Camas, Wash. Playing forward for the Camas Papermakers, she has scored 137 goals with 37 assists. She was named the Washington 4A Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.  As a captain of the team during her senior season, she was a 3^rd time All-American Team selection, and a MaxPreps Top-5 Scorer in the Country. Kemp led Camas to third place finishes in the WIAA state tournament during her freshman and sophomore years.
 
Kemp performed successfully in the classroom maintaining a strong 3.6 GPA, and was tabbed an All-League Scholar-Athlete in each of the past three years.
 
"Gonzaga offers a fantastic family environment, a type that makes you feel at home, "Kemp said. "Gonzaga was also the perfect place for me with the opportunity to be part of this new amazing coaching staff's journey, as they just took their positions at Gonzaga and are only one season deep in their journey there. The coaching staff has already become my family, and so have the girls, and I couldn't be more excited to begin my journey at Gonzaga University."
 
Watkins on Kemp: "Maddie is a pure goal scorer.  She has the ability to get her shot off and has scored an incredible amount of goals in her youth career."
 
 
McKenzie Moran
F | Barboursville, W. Va. | St. Joseph Central Catholic | West Virginia Futbol Club
Moran, a 5-5 forward from West Virginia, arrives at Gonzaga following an impressive high school career. She was named an All-American and a First Team All-State selection in 2018. She compiled 140 goals and 80 assists, and played in 90 consecutive games as a St. Joseph Central Catholic Leprechaun. Moran was the captain of the soccer team in 2016, 2017, and 2018, along with winning the 2017 Forward of the Year award. During her senior season, her soccer team finished with an impressive 20 wins.
 
In the classroom, Moran maintained a stellar 4.0 GPA on the Honor Roll. She was the President of National Honors Society and the Vice President of Student Council. Her father Matthew Moran was a four-year letter award winner in football at Ball State University.
 
"I chose Gonzaga because of the great academics and for the great coaching and team atmosphere on the soccer team," Moran said.
 
Watkins on Moran: "McKenzie has an engine that doesn't stop with great speed and endurance.  Defenders will have a difficult task of keeping up with her."
 
 
Thea Nelson
D | Kent, Wash. | Kentwood | PacNW Soccer Club
Nelson comes to the east side of the state after shining on the west side of the state. She began her high school career at Seattle Christian, where she was named First Team All-League in her freshman year. Seattle Christian won the 2015 1A State Championship, behind Nelson's game-winning goal. Following her junior season, she was named Second Team All-league at Kentwood High School. She was First Team All-League as a senior. Nelson was also tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year as a team captain in 2018.
 
In the classroom, Nelson earned Grand Honors at Seattle Christian Schools in her freshman and sophomore years, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has been on the Honor Roll all four years of high school, and was on the National Honor Society her sophomore year. She boasts a 3.97 GPA.
 
"I fell in love with Gonzaga the first time I visited campus," Nelson said. "There was such a great sense of community. The campus was beautiful, the people were welcoming, and the overall atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for. After meeting the coaching staff and some of the players, I knew this was going to be the best place for me to continue my soccer career and receive an incredible education."
 
Watkins on Nelson: "Thea is an athletic and gifted ball winner with great distribution.  She reads the game easily and can battle with the very best."
 
 
Allison Pelstring
M | Placentia, Calif. | El Dorado High School | Strikers FC
Pelstring will be a freshman for the Zags in 2019. A four-year varsity member at El Dorado, she was named First Team All-League, the North Hills League Offensive MVP and First Team All-CIF as a junior. Pelstring was also named a 2018 California State All-Star.
 
Pelstring excels off the field in the classroom with a 4.4 overall GPA. She plans to major in education with the goal of someday being a high school history teacher.
 
"I chose Gonzaga because I felt like it was a perfect fit for me on and off the field," Pelstring said. "As I've lived all of my life in Southern California, I wanted to experience something outside my comfort zone and go to school in a different environment. I want to experience all the different seasons, which is something we definitely miss out on in Orange County."
 
Watkins on Pelstring: "Ally is an athletic player who can play almost anywhere on the field for us.  She is extremely coachable and is a great fit for our campus."
 
 
Shyh Saenz
GK | Hayward, Calif. | Mt. Eden High School| Pleasanton Rage ECNL
A 5-7 goalkeeper from Hayward, Calif., Saenz will be a freshman on the Bulldogs 2019 roster. At Mt. Eden, she was named Western Alameda County Conference-Foothill Division All League First Team Goalkeeper in 2016, and was named to the Hayward Youth Hall of Fame in 2017. Saenz is a member of the U-17 Mexican National team. In 2016 with the U-15 team, Mexico place third at the CONCACAF Championships.
 
A 4.1 GPA holder, Saenz plans to major in business administration with the career goal of being a CEO someday.
 
"I truly value everything Gonzaga has to offer as a whole," Saenz said. "I definitely see myself excelling as a student and an athlete here. The campus and its educational opportunities are amazing! I also wanted to play in a competitive conference like WCC and the coaching staff made me feel excited about our future as a team."
 
Watkins on Saenz: "Shyh's understanding and intelligence really stand out. She is incredibly quick and reads the game as well as any goalkeeper out there." 
 
 
Britney Weedman
M | Sammamish, Wash. | Eastside Catholic High School | Crossfire Premier Academy
Weedman joins the Zags, from Sammamish, Wash. and Eastside Catholic. She will be the second member of her family on the team, as her sister Brooke will be a senior in 2019. As a Crusader at Eastside Catholic, she recorded seven assists and one goal her sophomore year. Weedman was named Second Team All-Metro in 2017, and captain for her senior season.
 
Weedman looks forward to majoring in business, with the goal of working in retail management.
 
"Gonzaga has a small, connected community, similar to my high school," Weedman said. "Also, it has a focus on the religious aspect which is important to me."
 
Watkins on Weedman: "Britney is a great leader on the field. As a center back, she has all the physical and technical tools and communicates extremely well."
 
 
Darcy Woodward
M | Smithfield, Utah | Sky View High School | Utah Avalanche ECNL
Woodward is a 5-5 midfielder from Smithfield, Utah. A 2018-19 team captain, Woodward was named Salt Lake Tribune All-State First Team and Deseret News All-State Second Team. As a junior, Woodward was a part of the Sky View team that won the state championship.
 
A member of the honor roll for all four years of high school with a 3.9 GPA, Woodward hopes to major in nursing while at GU.
 
"I chose Gonzaga because I loved the community feeling on campus. I felt like it fit my athletic and academic aspirations," Woodward said.
 
Watkins on Woodward: "Darcy is a box to box midfielder who has the skill to dictate rhythm for us. She wants the ball all the time and can handle the pressure."