Recapping the 2022 Women’s Soccer Season
SEATTLE – With another season having come and gone, it's time to look back at the year that was for the Washington women's soccer team.
HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES?
Quite possibly the highlight of the 2023 season came on its very last matchday as the Huskies went into enemy territory and came away with a Boeing Apple Cup Series victory with a 3-2 win over Washington State. It was the first win in Pullman for Washington since 1996.
The Huskies erased a one-goal deficit twice to shock the Cougars. McKenzie Weinert got the party started, finishing off a Shae Holmes feed to tie the match at 1-1. After WSU regained the lead, Summer Yates hammered home a rebound in front of goal to level the score once again at 2-2. Rookie Kelsey Branson finished the deal, taking Elena Palacios' looping ball over the top and finding the far corner to lift UW to a dramatic 3-2 win.
THREE'S COMPANY
Washington placed three players on the All-Pac-12 conference teams. Summer Yates garnered her fourth-straight honor, earning a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team. Defender Shae Holmes joined Yates, landing on the second team. Meanwhile, Kelsey Branson became the first Husky to garner All-Pac-12 Freshman Team laurels since Yates in 2018.
SMART COOKIES
UW had six players recognized for their work in the classroom when the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Teams were announced, with Kyla Ferry, Shae Holmes, Olivia Sekany, Shaye Seyffart, Karlee Stueckle and McKenzie Weinert honored.
DOUBLE DIGIT DUBS
With the win over Washington State, UW secured it's third 10-win season in the last four seasons. Prior to the 2019 season, Washington had not won double digit matches in a season since 2015.
GOALS IN BUNCHES
The Husky offense was in top form all season long, scoring 40 goals, the most in a single season since 2010. Washington scored multiple goals in 10-of-19 matches during the season, including a season-high five goals three times against Air Force, Long Beach State and Seattle. The Huskies also put four goals past Colorado, tied for the most against a Pac-12 opponent since 2002.
It was a total team effort throughout the campaign, with 14 different players scoring. Six different players scored at least four goals, led by Summer Yates' seven goals.
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
Individual efforts were in short supply during the season as Washington broke the all-time single-season record for assists with 43 on the campaign. 29 of UW's 40 goals were scored with the benefit of an assist, including multiple helpers 14 times. Summer Yates led the way with seven assists, while eight different Huskies recorded three or more assists.
SUMMER'S SWAN SONG
Nobody in the history of Washington women's soccer has donned a Husky kit more times than Summer Yates, who finished her career with a program-record 93 appearances. The Pasco, Washington, native will go down as one of the greatest players in program-history, ranking third all-time in points (77) and goals (27) as well as fourth in assists (23).
TOP (RANKED) DAWGS
Starting the season undefeated through the first eight matches at 6-0-2, Washington vaulted all the way to No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, tied for the highest ranking for the Huskies since the 2004 season. It was the first-ever undefeated non-conference season for UW, outscoring their opponents 23-3.
SENIOR DAY STUNNER
Washington pulled of a dramatic comeback to turn agony into joy during the last home match of the season at Husky Soccer Stadium. Trailing late to Arizona State, Summer Yates buried a sumptuous free kick in the 87th minute and Karlee Stueckle bagged a 90th-minute match winner to flip the script and finish the home campaign with a bang.
GETTIING DUSTY IN HERE
In a season filled with memories, one of the most memorable was one seen by few. At the conclusion of Washington's Apple Cup win over Washington State, Shae Holmes and Hailey Still shared a tear-filled embrace on the pitch at Lower Field. The touching moment came when both players realized they had just completed their first fully healthy collegiate seasons, both having recovered from multiple ACL injuries during their careers.
Holmes started all 19 matches on the back line for UW, posting a goal and six assists to land on the All-Pac-12 Second Team. Meanwhile, Still served as the ultimate super sub for the Huskies, coming off the bench to score four goals.