Pac-12 announces 2021 women's soccer All-Conference honors

Pac-12 Forward of the Year: Penelope Hocking, USC
Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year: Croix Bethune, USC
Pac-12 Defender of the Year: Naomi Girma, Stanford
Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year: Nadia Cooper, Washington State
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year: Nadia Cooper, Washington State
Pac-12 Coach of the Year: Keidane McAlpine, USC

SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference announced today the All-Pac-12 Women’s Soccer honors for the 2021 season, as voted on by league coaches. USC’s Penelope Hocking was voted Pac-12 Forward of the Year for the second straight season. The Trojans led the way with two more awards as Croix Bethune was named Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and head coach Keidane McAlpine was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Washington State’s Nadia Cooper was named both Pac-12 Goalkeeper and Freshman of the Year, while Stanford’s Naomi Girma rounded out the group as Pac-12 Defender of the Year. In addition, the All-Pac-12 and All-Freshman Teams were also announced.

PAC-12 FORWARD OF THE YEAR — Penelope Hocking, Sr., USC (Anaheim, Calif.)

Senior Penelope Hocking repeats as Pac-12 Forward of the Year and becomes the second Trojan and third consecutive USC recipient along with former teammate Tara McKeown in 2019. This season, Hocking helped lead USC (13-3-2, 8-1-2) to a runner-up finish in the Pac-12, and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Despite missing five matches including three league contests due to injury, Hocking was still among the Conference's leaders with 10 goals and 24 points, with six goals and 14 points coming in eight Pac-12 matches. Along the way, Hocking became the Trojans' all-time goals leader with 52 and is second in program history with 124 points. 

PAC-12 MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR — Croix Bethune, Jr., USC (Alpharetta, Ga.)

Junior Croix Bethune is the first USC recipient of the Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year award. She powered Trojans' league-leading attack with a team-best 13 goals, seven assists and 33 points, ranking top-5 in the Conference in each category. Four of her 13 goals were game-winners, tied for third-most in the Pac-12.

PAC-12 DEFENDER OF THE YEAR — Naomi Girma, Sr., STANFORD (San Jose, Calif.)

Senior Naomi Girma captures her second Pac-12 Defender of the Year honor (2019), giving NCAA Tournament-bound Stanford (13-5-1) the recipient for a fifth straight season. Girma has started all 19 games and logged a team-high 1,655 minutes along the backline this season, leading the Cardinal to a 0.83 goals-against average and nine shutouts while also contributing four goals, including the game-winner against Washington State. 

PAC-12 GOALKEEPER/FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR — Nadia Cooper, Fr., Washington State (Houston, Texas)

Freshman Nadia Cooper is Washington State's first major award recipient since Micaela Castain was the 2013 Pac-12 Player of the Year. With Cooper in net, the Cougars have allowed the fewest goals (11) in the Conference this season, including a league-low eight in Pac-12 play. She recorded seven solo shutouts and three combined clean sheets in her 15 matches, surrendering a goal in only five contests as Washington State posted its best-ever Pac-12 mark (7-1-3) and highest league finish (third) since 2015.

PAC-12 COACH OF THE YEAR — Keidane McAlpine, USC

Keidane McAlpine earns his second career Pac-12 Coach of the Year honor, first in eight seasons at USC after also earning the award in 2013 as head coach at Washington State. He has led the Trojans to a 13-3-2 overall record this season, which included a 15-match unbeaten streak, and matched the program's best record in Pac-12 play (8-1-2) en route to a runner-up Conference finish. McAlpine will next lead USC into its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament - every year of his tenure in Los Angeles - for the longest current streak in the Pac-12, seeking to add a second career national championship (2016) and third all-time for the Trojans (2007).