FARMINGTON, Utah - It has been a fantastic season for the Eagles, and they have been rewarded as such. EWU soccer earned six players on All-Conference teams in the Big Sky, as Chloe Pattison was named Co-Offensive MVP, and head coach of the Eagles Missy Strasburg was named Coach of the Year, announced by the conference today.

After finishing third in the Big Sky conference the Eagles had one of the biggest win improvements in the country. Eastern Washington soccer finished 9-5-4 overall, and 4-1-3 overall in conference. They clinched their first conference tournament appearance since 2019, and recorded a program record in win improvement (+7). 

Junior Chloe Pattison was a catalyst for the Eagle offense this season. The Lake Stevens, Washington native led the Big Sky conference in goals scored (11), shots on goal (29), and points (25). Pattison would also record three assists this season, and two games with at least one goal and one assist. The junior was selected offensive player of the year for the fifth time ever, and the third player in Eagles history. 

Pattison was dominant all season on the pitch, as she recorded a goal in five straight matches, and a brace in back-to-back matches. Pattison would total seven goals in her scoring stretch, and moved into a tie for eighth all-time on the Eastern scoring list (14). She was also named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week three times this season.

This season was one of the best individual seasons for an Eagle player. Pattison climbed the Eagle record books while ranking fourth in single season goals scored (11), fifth in points (25), sixth in shots on goal (29), and tied 10th in total shots (10). 

The coach of the year in the Big Sky conference Missy Strasburg turned some heads across the nation this year. In her fourth year at the helm the Eagles became the sixth team in school history to record nine wins in a season. EWU soccer also finished with only one loss in conference for the first time since 2017. Eastern earned four Big Sky Player of the Week awards this season, and matched the 2017 season with six players named to Big Sky All-Conference teams. Strasburg is the third Eastern coach ever to be named coach of the year in the Big Sky Conference. 

After being picked eighth in the preseason poll, Strasburg and the Eagles would finish third in the Big Sky conference, and would earn a tie against the top two teams in the conference in Montana and Idaho. Eastern also earned wins against three Mountain West programs, defeating Hawaii, San Jose State, and UNLV.

EWU soccer was a team no one wanted to face this season. For the regular season, the Eagles finished first in the Big Sky conference in corners (98), Penalty kicks (5-6), shots on goal (131), tied first in assists (28), second in points (92), goals (32), scoring average (1.778), and shots (259). Eastern would also record five shutouts on the season, and two defenders would be named All-Conference in the Big Sky.

The junior Chloe Pattison and sophomore Kendall Moore would be named Big Sky All-Conference First Team. Moore took a huge jump to display balance all season on the offensive end, and would be the only person in the conference to record five goals and five assists. She would also add two game winning goals for the Eagles.  

The Yakima, Washington native was the only player this season to record two assists in a match for the Eagles. Moore would finish tied for second in the conference with five assists. She also finished fourth in the conference with five goals, and 15 points.

Three Eagles were named Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Junior goalkeeper Kamryn Willoughby, junior defender Riley Arribas, and freshman Iris Mattern

Willoughby was strong all season between the posts. The Lindon, Utah native started in all 18 matches for the Eagles, and helped record five shutouts for EWU this season. She would display great performances all year, recording 10 saves against rival Idaho, and recording five or more saves in a match six times this season. Willoughby would even earn a Defensive Player of the Week honor after her first shutout of the season against South Dakota. 

The junior climbed the all-time Eagle goalkeeper record book this season. Willougby passed 200 career saves as an Eagle, and moved into sixth all-time in saves (215). The junior also moved into fourth all-time in career shutouts (8), and seventh all-time in goalkeeper minutes played (3621).

The junior Riley Arribas was reliable all year on the defensive end, but was able to show how dominant she could be on the attacking front when needed. Arribas finished tied for second in the conference with five assists, and would add a pair of goals this season as well. 

The Aliso Viejo, California native finished fourth on the team with nine points and 27 total shots. Arribas finished third on the team in minutes played (1454), and moved into fifth all-time in Eagle single season assists (5), and moved into a tie for eighth all-time in career assists (8).

Freshman Iris Mattern became a playmaker right away for the Eagles this season. Mattern would finish third on the team in minutes played (1536), and was a huge piece of an Eastern defense that recorded five shutouts on the year. The Port Townsend, Washington native would record 11 full 90 minutes this season, and would only miss nine minutes in the last 11 matches of the season.

Junior Delani Walker would earn Big Sky Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention. The Missoula, Montana native was a centerpiece for the Eastern offense this season. Walker finished tied for second in the conference with five assists, fifth in the conference with 21 shots on goal, and tied sixth with 40 total shots. 

Walker would record at least three shots in a game five times this season, and would record two game winning goals in 1341 minutes played. The junior will appear in her 50th career game as an Eagle this week.

The Eagles look to win their third Big Sky postseason championship and clinch their third NCAA tournament berth. The last time EWU soccer won the conference tournament was in 2017 when they defeated Northern Colorado 2-1.

Eastern Washington soccer will travel to Missoula, Montana to face the #6 seed Portland State (4-8-4) in the conference quarterfinals Wednesday, November 6th at 10:00 am. All matches of the tournament will be streaming on ESPN+.

2024 Big Sky Individual Award Winners
Co-Offensive MVP: Chloe Pattison, Eastern Washington/Jen Estes, Montana
Defensive MVP: Alyssa Peters, Idaho
Goalkeeper of the Year: Bayliss Flynn, Montana
Newcomer of the Year: Jen Estes, Montana*
Freshman of the Year: Aliayha Saldana, Portland State
Coach of the Year: Missy Strasburg, Eastern Washington 
Golden Boot Award Winner: Haylee Phoenix, Northern Arizona

* - unanimous pick 

Big Sky Soccer All-Conference First Team
GK: Bayliss Flynn, Montana
D: Alyssa Peters, Idaho
D: Ava Samuelson, Montana
D: Sydney Sharts, Sacramento State
D: Liv Frazier, Portland State
D: Charley Boone, Montana
MF: Abigail Lopez, Sacramento State
MF: Kendall Moore, Eastern Washington
MF: Maddie Ditta, Montana
MF: Annika Farley, Idaho
F: Chloe Pattison, Eastern Washington
F: Jen Estes, Montana
F: Haylee Phoenix, Northern Arizona

Five defenders on the 1st team due to a tie 

Big Sky Soccer All-Conference Second Team
GK: Kamryn Willoughby, Eastern Washington
D: Cassandra Herrman, Sacramento State
D: Kalo Iongi, Portland State
D: Iris Mattern, Eastern Washington
D: Riley Arribas, Eastern Washington
MF: Margo Schoesler, Idaho
MF: Joey Lujan, Northern Arizona
MF: Avery Ott, Northern Arizona
MF: Elle Frazier, Portland State
F: Chloe Seelhoff, Montana
F: Ali Swensen, Weber State
F: Aliayha Saldana, Portland State

Big Sky Soccer All-Conference Honorable Mention
GK: Trinity Hale, Idaho State
GK: Trinity Corcoran, Northern Arizona
D: Cassidy Elicker, Idaho
D: Rebekah Reyes, Idaho
D: Samantha Kearns, Weber State
MF: Hannah Alfaro-Black, Idaho
MF: Carly Whalen, Montana
MF: Lucy Quinn, Portland State
MF: Madelyn Dougherty, Sacramento State
MF: Ellie Farber, Sacramento State
F: Sammie Sofonia, Weber State
F: Karli Yoshida-Williams, Idaho
F: Delani Walker, Eastern Washington

Minimum 3 votes needed for honorable mention
 

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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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