Penelope Hocking's Brace Leads USC Women's Soccer to 5-0 Win at Western Michigan

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Penelope Hocking scored twice and the Trojans put up four goals in the second half to grab a dominant 5-0 victory on the road over Western Michigan on Sunday morning.
 
Hocking, who was making her first start of the season, struck in the third minute and then opened up the onslaught in the second half with the first of four goals for the Trojans in the period. USC moves to 3-2 on the year with the win and Western Michigan falls to 2-4.
 
Savannah DeMelo combined on a little give and go with Hocking to open the scoring early in the first half and then it was Madeline Vergura who fed Hocking for her second-half strike in the 59th minute.
 
There were plenty of firsts on the day, as Hannah White picked up her first career assist on a feed to Croix Bethune in the 72nd minute, and then White followed that up with her first career goal just six minutes later on an assist from Katie Roditis. Freshman midfielder Simi Awujo would cap the scoring with a laser strike in the 84th minute to pick up her first collegiate goal.
 
USC outshot the Broncos 30-6 in the game, putting 14 shots on target. Anna Smith made the only two saves she needed to in goal, preserving the Trojans' second straight shutout.
 
GOALS
3' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Savannah DeMelo) – Hocking sent a quick pass over to DeMelo on the right side and DeMelo sent it right back to Hocking, who finished in front of the net.
 
59' – USC: Penelope Hocking (assisted by Madeline Vergura) – Vergura found Hocking in front of the net from the right side and Hocking finished with one touch.
 
72' – USC: Croix Bethune (assisted by Hannah White) – White found Bethune deep in the penalty area and Bethune calmly finished in front of the net.
 
78' – USC: Hannah White (assisted by Katie Roditis) – Roditis sent the ball to White on the move near the top of the penalty area and White sent a strike into the upper left corner of the goal.
 
84' – USC: Simi Awujo (no assist) – Awujo carried the ball up the field and fired off a shot near the top of the area that beat the WMU keeper low and to her left.
 
UP NEXT
The Trojans have an off week when they return home and then head to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday of the following week (Sept. 16) followed by a home match with CSUN on that Sunday (Sept. 19). Sunday's game will be the final non-conference game of the regular season, and will be Senior Day for the Trojans.

Hear from Head Coach @Kmcdane after the Trojans closed their Michigan road trip with a convincing W. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/rl4tHSg14S

— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) September 5, 2021