SPOKANE, Wash. — The Gonzaga women's soccer team begins their 2021 fall schedule against Eastern Washington at Luger Field Thursday.
The Zags are coming off of an unprecedented spring regular season slate. Gonzaga placed third for the first time since the West Coast Conference expanded to 10 teams. GU finished 7-3-1 overall and 5-2-1 in conference play. The Zags' coaching staff of Chris Watkins, Assistant Coaches Lexi Brown and Katie Benz, were named the West Region Staff of the Year. Watkins was named a 2020-21 West Coast Conference co-Coach of the Year, becoming only the second GU Head Coach to earn WCC Coach of the Year honors, and the first since 2003. The Bulldogs finished the season receiving a vote in the national rankings.
The Bulldogs were selected fourth in the conference's preseason poll as voted by the league's head coaches. GU's Jordan Thompson was named Preseason All-West Coast Conference.
Thompson has started in all 61 of her collegiate appearances and has been a team captain for four years. She's been a staple on the GU defense the past four seasons. The senior has played over 5,400 minutes for the Zags.
Thompson is one of many returning starters to the GU lineup this fall. Lyza Bosselmann is back after starting each game in the net for the Zags. She was tabbed honorable mention All-Conference following the season. She made 41 saves in 11 appearances with a 0.91 goals against average.
Sophia Braun was a first team All-WCC selection in the spring. She was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team. The junior from Beaverton, Ore., helped lead a solid Zag midfield in her nine appearances. She found the back of the net against Saint Mary's.
Kayla Chatman-Haggerty and Kate Doyle were named to the WCC All-Freshman Team in the spring, and are back ready to bolster an experienced Zag squad.
The Bulldogs rolled to a 5-1 win over Dixie State season-opening win on the road last season. GU is 7-2-1 in its last 10 regular season-opening matches, but have won the last four that have been in Spokane dating back to 2009. The Zags opened the 2013 season with a 1-0 win at Eastern Washington.
Gonzaga owns a 17-4-1 all-time record against EWU. The Eagles snapped a 12-game skid to GU with a thrilling 2-1 home win in 2017. Lauren Elwer and Hannah Hale found the back of the net in a 2-0 shutout win over Eastern Washington last season in Spokane.
Gonzaga's 31st season of women's soccer starts Thursday versus EWU at 7 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on GoZags.com.
