SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Gonzaga women's soccer Head Coach Chris Watkins was named the 2023 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year the league announced Wednesday.
 
Kelsey Oyler and Giana Riley were both named First Team All-WCC, while Maddie Kemp, Chelsea Le, and Lauren Towne were second team. Grace Courter and Marissa Garcia were tabbed honorable mention. Shelby Runje and Emelia Warta were named to the league's All-Freshman Team.
 
Watkins and his staff led GU to the West Coast Conference title for the first time in program history, and the program's second appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs will host an NCAA Tournament for the first time ever, welcoming Idaho Saturday at 5 p.m. It is Watkins' second WCC Coach of the Year honor, earning the accolade in the spring 2020 season.
 
The 2023 Zags have set single season program records with 54 goals, 44 assists, and 150 points. At Pepperdine, Gonzaga won its sixth conference game in a season for the first time in program history, while its 13 victories are the second-most behind 2021's 15 wins. Five different Zags earned WCC Player of the Week honors during the season.
 
Oyler set new season and career assist records this season. Her 12 assists rank sixth in the NCAA, while her 21 career assists easily set a new program mark. The junior recorded three assists in two matches in September. She was All-Freshman in 2021 and honorable mention All-WCC in 2022.
 
Riley recorded a historic hat trick in the 3-1 WCC title clinching with at Pepperdine. The trio of goals propelled her to the top of the league in goals (12) and points (30). The Manteca, Calif., native, is 15^th in the nation in points and 20^th in goals. Riley is one goal and two points from tying program goals and points single season records. The sophomore is tied for eighth all-time at GU with 17 goals and 44 points. She was named to the league's All-Freshman team last season.
 
Kemp picked up her first All-Conference honor after leading the WCC in shots 65, which is fourth in program history. She was also fifth in goals (9) and seventh in assists (5). The senior is third all-time at Gonzaga with 15 assists, third with 61 points, and fourth in goals with 23 in her career. Kemp had a hat trick at Pacific and three assists versus Oklahoma.
 
Le, a Spokane native, scored the game-winning goal over then-ranked No. 15 Santa Clara. She has started in all 18 matches and scored two goals with an assist.
 
Towne and the GU defense had seven shutouts. She is third in the WCC with a 81.4 save percentage and goals against average .790.
 
Courter was a key piece to the Zag defense that recorded those seven shutouts. She started all 18 games this season and played a team-high 1,524 minutes in the field. She had a goal and an assist this season. Garcia is sixth in the league with eight goals and eighth in program history with 17 career goals. She also started all 18 games.
 
Runje had five starts in her freshman season, appearing in 18 games. She scored five goals on 22 shots. Warta has started 13 of the 18 games and played 1,268 minutes. She has a goal and two assists.
 
2023 West Coast Conference Women's Soccer All-Conference Awards
WCC Coach of the Year
Chris Watkins, Gonzaga

WCC Offensive Player of the Year
Tori Waldeck, Pepperdine

WCC Midfielder of the Year
Marissa Vasquez, San Francisco
 
WCC Defender of the Year
Annie Karich, Santa Clara

WCC Goalkeeper of the Year
Bre Norris, Portland

WCC Freshman of the Year
Julia Quinonez, Pepperdine

WCC All-Conference
First Team
Camille Ashe, D, Portland
Taylor Bloom, D, Pepperdine
Makena Carr, D, Saint Mary's
Annie Karich, MF, Santa Clara
Sally Menti, MF, Santa Clara
Bre Norris, GK, Portland
Kelsey Oyler, F, Gonzaga
Giana Riley, F, Gonzaga
Marissa Vasquez, MF, San Francisco
Tori Waldeck, MF, Pepperdine
Farrah Walters, F, Santa Clara
 
Second Team
Colby Barnett, Santa Clara
Maddie Kemp, Gonzaga
Chelsea Le, Gonzaga
Sophia Mattice, Portland
Jaida Nyby, Pacific
Julia Quinonez, Pepperdine
Briana Salvetti, Saint Mary's
Nedya Sawan, Portland
Cally Togiai, Portland
Lauren Towne, Gonzaga
Tatum Wynalda, Pepperdine
 
Honorable Mention
Alyssa Bourgeois, Santa Clara
Grace Courter, Gonzaga
Marissa Garcia, Gonzaga
Karina Gonzalez, Pepperdine
Jackie Koerwitz, San Francisco
Lucy Mitchell, Santa Clara
Katana Norman, Pepperdine
Alexis Pashales, Pacific
Savannah Schwarze, Saint Mary's
Anaya Shelton, Pacific
Olivia Stone, San Diego
Genevieve Watkins, LMU
 
WCC All-Freshman Team
Jordyn Crosby, Santa Clara
Peyton Leonard, Pepperdine
Olivia Lukrofka, San Francisco
Sydney Middaugh, Saint Mary's
Mailin Orozco, Santa Clara
Julia Quinonez, Pepperdine
Violet Rademacher, Portland
Shelby Runje, Gonzaga
Ava Verplancke, Pepperdine
Emelia Warta, Gonzaga
Malia Yamamoto, Santa Clara