SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The same week head coach Jerry Smith was named the 2013 NSCAA West Region Women's Coach of the Year, two Santa Clara women's soccer players were named 2013 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's All-Americans and four were named First Team NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's All-West Region. Senior Julie Johnston was named first team on both lists while Sofia Huerta was First Team All-Region and Third Team All-American. Seniors Morgan Marlborough and Ellie Rice were honored as All-West selections.
"I'm very proud of the four players that were honored," said Smith. "To have four players in the 11 spots on the First Team All-West list is a real credit to the players and our program. I'm thrilled for Julie to be honored for the third time as an All-American and I'm really happy for Sofia to get some recognition that is overdue for her. Having two All-Americans is something that hasn't happened a lot for us in the last 10 years and it speaks to the incredible year we had. I'm also happy for Morgan and Ellie and I am thrilled as a Santa Clara coach today."
Johnston led Santa Clara with eight assists and four-game winning goals. She finished third on the team with 12 goals and 32 points. Johnston was announced as a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy on Dec. 3. She was also named the WCC Player of the Year and First-Team All-WCC. This is the third consecutive year Johnston has been a First Team All-American.
Huerta led the Broncos with 16 goals and 40 points while tying for the team-lead with eight assists. She scored three game-winners and was named First Team All-WCC.
Marlborough was second on the Broncos with 15 goals and 36 points while scoring three game-winners. She added six assists and has three hat tricks on the year. Marlborough was named First Team All-WCC as well.
Rice anchored the Broncos back line throughout the season. She scored one goal, a game-winner, and added three assists. Rice was named Second Team All-WCC.