CHENEY — The Eastern Washington University soccer team recently wrapped up the 2019 season with their sixth-straight Big Sky Conference tournament appearance and a winning record for the fifth-straight year.
Throughout the season, the Eagles set several program records and hit multiple milestones on their journey to the championship match of the conference tournament.
Head coach Chad Bodnar received Coach of the Year, junior Taylor Matheny earned Big Sky Defensive MVP and first-team all-conference defender, and freshman Madison Kem was awarded Newcomer of the Year and placed on the first-team all-conference team as a midfielder.
The Eagles also received a third first-team all-conference award, two second-team awards and one honorable mention.
Junior Sariah Keister, who led the team in goals scored with seven, received first-team all-conference forward.
McKaley Goffard and Mya Elder-Hammond received second-team all-conference defender and Brooke Dunbar was awarded honorable mention.
As only the third head coach in EWU history, Bodnar finished the 2019 season 11-8-2 overall, 6-2-0 in the conference, and recorded his fifth-straight year with a winning record.
Bodnar holds the most conference wins as a head coach in program history with 34 as he passes previous head coach George Hageage’s record of 31.
The Eagles entered the season with 10 newcomers and returned 12 letter-winners as they only had four seniors on the squad.
EWU began the season 1-0 for the fifth-straight year, defeating Nevada in overtime with a golden goal from Sariah Keister in the 95th minute to win the match 1-0 on the road.
Keister helped the Eagles for a second time in their next victory over CSU Bakersfield with an equalizing goal that helped EWU finish the match with a 3-2 win on the road.
Freshman Brooke Flores collected the winning goal following an assist by Mya Elder-Hammond in the 72nd minute against the Roadrunners.
Eastern Washington ended the preseason with an overall record of 3-5-1 with their third win coming from an away match against South Dakota in a double overtime battle which ended 2-1.
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