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USC's Croix Bethune, Penelope Hocking, Savannah DeMelo, Anna Smith Earn All-Region Recognition

by usctrojans.com
Nov 29, 2021

LOS ANGELES – The United Soccer Coaches organization released its 2021 All-Region teams today and four Trojans were honored. Croix Bethune and Penelope Hocking were named to the All-Pacific Region first team, while Savannah DeMelo picked up second team recognition and Anna Smith was named to the third team.
 
USC has had multiple players earn All-Region honors each of the last seven seasons, and has had at least four players recognized three of the last four years. The Trojans finished the season 14-3-3, earning their 8th straight NCAA Postseason bid and 20th appearance overall, making it to the second round of the tournament.
 
Croix Bethune – All-Pacific Region first team
Bethune's list of awards continues to grow as she was already named the Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year and to the All-Pac-12 first team earlier this month. Bethune led USC in every major offensive category this season, posting 16 goals, 10 assists and 42 total points. Her 16 goals are the third most ever scored in a season by a USC player, and are the seventh most in the country this season. Bethune's 42 total points are the fourth best total in USC history and fourth most in the nation this year, while her 10 assists are tied for the Pac-12 lead and 25th in the NCAA. The Georgia native just finished her second season with USC, grabbing All-Pac-12 first team honors last year as well. This is the first All-Region selection for Bethune, who still has three years of eligibility remaining due to the Covid-19 dispensation from the shortened 2020 campaign.

 
Penelope Hocking – All-Pacific Region first team
Hocking further solidified her place as one of the all-time USC greats with another stellar campaign in 2021, earning her second consecutive Pac-12 Forward of the Year award and fourth straight All-Pac-12 nod (she has been on the first team each of the last three years). This year's All-Region nod is the fourth straight for Hocking and her third straight year being named to the first team. The senior forward became USC's all-time leading scorer this season, surpassing Isabelle Harvey's record of 48 career goals, a mark which had stood for 21 years. Hocking scored 12 goals this season (3rd in the Pac-12), notched six assists (9th in the Pac-12) and posted 30 total points (3rd in the Pac-12), despite missing five games to injury. Her now 54 career goals are the 12th most in Pac-12 history.

 
Savannah DeMelo – All-Pacific Region second team
Another senior who is no stranger to awards season, DeMelo garners her second All-Pacific Region honor with this year's second team nod, coming on the heels of her being named to the All-Pac-12 second team as well. The Trojan midfielder did it all for USC this season, controlling the game both offensively and defensively from the middle of the pitch. DeMelo scored four goals and posted seven assists to finish fourth on the team with 15 total points this year. Her seven assists moved her into a tie for third on USC's career helpers list and her 15 points moved her into 10th on the Trojans' all-time points list.

 
Anna Smith – All-Pacific Region third team
Smith took over the starting goalkeeper spot for USC this year and proceeded to lead the team to eight shutouts (third most in the Pac-12), while holding opponents to under a goal a game this season. She played every minute in goal for USC during the 2021 campaign (1,865 minutes – most in the Pac-12), leading the team to a 14-3-3 record and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Smith made 65 saves on the season and had a .765 save percentage. It is the first All-Region award for the senior, who now owns a 25-6-4 career record in goal for USC.

 

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