USC's Penelope Hocking Named Semifinalist for MAC Hermann Trophy
LOS ANGELES – USC junior forward Penelope Hocking was named a semifinalist for the prestigious MAC Hermann Trophy, which is given each year to the top player in college soccer.
Hocking is one of 15 semifinalists for the award and is the sixth USC player ever to earn the distinction. The Trojans have had a semifinalist for the award four of the last five seasons, with Tara McKeown being named a semifinalist last year, Ally Prisock in 2018 and Morgan Andrews being named a finalist in 2016.
Hocking earned Pac-12 Forward of the Year and All-Pac-12 first team honors during the 2020-21 season, with her 10 goals leading the Pac-12 and good for 12th in the nation during the regular season. Her 23 total points (10 goals, 3 assists) also led the conference and her three game-winning goals were the fifth most in the Pac-12. She posted two multi-goal games this year, and had at least a point in eight of USC's 13 regular-season games.
Hocking continued her steady climb up the USC career scoring list this year, becoming just the second Trojan to ever reach the 40 goal plateau when she netted a hat trick against Washington on April 2nd. The junior forward currently sits at 42 career goals, putting her second behind USC's all-time leader Isabelle Harvey (48 goals). Her 100 career points are third on the Trojans' all-time list and her 13 game-winning goals are second.
Even in a shortened 2020-21 campaign, Hocking's 10 goals are tied for the 12th most ever in a season by a Trojan. She helped lead USC to a second place finish in the Pac-12 this year and the program's seventh straight postseason appearance. Hocking has already been named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American in her career, and has been All-Pac-12 in each of her three collegiate seasons.
Three men and three women finalists will be named for the award on Wednesday, May 12. The 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on May 27, 2021 to formally announce this year's winners.