USC Announces Four Incoming Freshmen
May 25, 2018 | Women's Soccer, Features
LOS ANGELES – USC Women's Soccer Head Coach Keidane McAlpine announced the signing of four incoming freshmen field players set to join the Trojans for the 2018 season.
USC will bring in one forward in Penelope Hocking, one midfielder in Madeline Vergura and two defenders in Ashley Soto and Logan Wells. The group will join four already announced transfers as part of a Trojan recruiting class currently ranked No. 2 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
Here's a look at USC's four incoming field players:
Penelope Hocking – 5'5" – Forward – Anaheim, Calif. – Canyon HS – SoCal Blues
Hocking is the 20th ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer. She is currently competing with the U-20 U.S. National Team and previously was a member of the U-19 squad. She made her first cap for the U-20 USWNT this past March in a friendly against France.
Hocking comes to USC from just down the road in Orange County and boasts being a two-time offensive MVP in the Crestview League for Canyon High School. She earned All-League first team honors each of the last three years and led her team to championships in 2015 and 2016. As a standout player on the club circuit for the SoCal Blues, Hocking scored 34 goals in 17 games over the 2017-18 season. She helped the Blues to a State Championship in 2013 and a National Championship in 2015.
Hocking on why she chose USC: "I'm happy to be able to attend USC because it is close to home and is somewhere I see myself excelling as a student and athlete."
McAlpine on Hocking: "Penelope is a true goal scorer. She is tenacious and ultra-competitive, and will bring a great skill level and craftiness, but ultimately her best attribute is her nose for the goal and ability to score."
Ashley Soto – 5'4" – Defender – Long Beach, Calif. – Los Alamitos HS – SoCal Blues
Soto is another local Southern California prospect out of Long Beach, who also has experience with the Mexican National U-20 and U-17 squads. She played on the 2017 U-20 CONCACAF Championship team, starting and playing every minute for Mexico to help the team qualify for the U-20 World Cup. Soto was also a starter on Mexico's quarterfinal squad in the U-17 World Cup in 2016, winning bronze at the Tournament of Gradisca and finishing second in CONCACAF that year as well.
At Los Alamitos High, Soto earned All-Sunset League first team honors and also ran track and swam for the Griffins. A teammate of Hocking on the SoCal Blues, Soto also helped the club to state and national championships.
Soto on why she chose USC: "USC is my dream school because of the great academic reputation, its history, location, and Pac-12 soccer program, along with having a chance to be coached by Keidane after seeing the way he coaches the girls, his style of play, his passion and being able to talk to him with ease. Of course, I've also been raised to "Fight On" since I was a baby given that my parents and great-grandparents graduated from SC!"
McAlpine on Soto: "Ashley is a terrific outside back. She is a very tough defender who is versatile as well. She can pass the ball really well and play in the midfield if we needed her to. Her experience with the Mexican U-20's is also going to serve her well as she transitions into the program."
Madeline Vergura – 5'8" – Midfielder – Concord, Mass. – Concord-Carlisle HS – FC Stars
Vergura is the highest ranked of the Trojans' incoming freshmen according to Top Drawer Soccer, which tabs her as the 17th-ranked player in the 2018 class. Vergura also comes in with Youth National Team experience, competing for the United States' U-18 and U-16 squads. Vergura captained the U-18 USWNT in a game against England and also started against Norway. She started in games against Iran and Mexico with the U-16 squad.
As the Trojans' lone East Coast recruit, Vergura starred for Concord-Carlisle HS and FC Stars, despite her time being limited by National Team commitments. Vergura was twice nominated for the Gatorade State Player of the Year award and earned All-League and All-State first team honors. In 2015, despite missing two weeks of the season due to a National Team call-up, she led the team with eight assists and scored six goals, and was the team's points leader in 2016 with 13 goals and five assists, again despite missing time. She also played varsity golf and was a High Honor Student all four years. Vergura helped FC Stars into the ECNL Top 16 in 2014, 2015 and 2017, and scored the game-winner to advance the team to the ECNL Final Four in 2016.
Vergura on why she chose USC: "I chose USC because it offers the ability to compete for national titles while earning a world-class education. USC's diverse, urban location will provide me with a rich set of opportunities."
McAlpine on Vergura: "Maddy is a very good passer of the ball. She is a playmaker out of the midfield and has the ability to link play and see things that a lot of people don't see. I think she is going to be fantastic as a player who helps us build the attack and keep the ball for long periods of time."
Logan Wells – 5'4" – Defender – Chula Vista, Calif. – Eastlake HS – San Diego Surf
Wells comes to USC after primarily competing for the San Diego Surf on the club circuit, helping her club reach a No. 1 national ranking three years in a row (2013-15). Wells led the Surf in assists with 12 as a defender in 2015 as the team was an ECNL National Finalist. She also helped lead the team to a USYSA National Championship in 2014 and four Surf Cup Championships during her tenure. Wells was a member of the U.S. Soccer ODP pool in 2012 and 2013, and participated in the 2013 Nike Pro+ Interregional Event.
Wells on why she chose USC: "I chose USC because of the amazing coaching staff, family-like environment, and competitive nature of the academics and athletics that will drive me to be my best."
McAlpine on Wells: "Logan is a really good outside back who unfortunately had some injuries, so we are going to have to get her feet back on the ground. But we expect her to be a good defender, good going forward, good on the ball and have a good serving ability. She will add excellent depth to our backline."
USC will bring in one forward in Penelope Hocking, one midfielder in Madeline Vergura and two defenders in Ashley Soto and Logan Wells. The group will join four already announced transfers as part of a Trojan recruiting class currently ranked No. 2 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer.
Here's a look at USC's four incoming field players:
Penelope Hocking – 5'5" – Forward – Anaheim, Calif. – Canyon HS – SoCal Blues
Hocking is the 20th ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class according to Top Drawer Soccer. She is currently competing with the U-20 U.S. National Team and previously was a member of the U-19 squad. She made her first cap for the U-20 USWNT this past March in a friendly against France.
Hocking comes to USC from just down the road in Orange County and boasts being a two-time offensive MVP in the Crestview League for Canyon High School. She earned All-League first team honors each of the last three years and led her team to championships in 2015 and 2016. As a standout player on the club circuit for the SoCal Blues, Hocking scored 34 goals in 17 games over the 2017-18 season. She helped the Blues to a State Championship in 2013 and a National Championship in 2015.
Hocking on why she chose USC: "I'm happy to be able to attend USC because it is close to home and is somewhere I see myself excelling as a student and athlete."
McAlpine on Hocking: "Penelope is a true goal scorer. She is tenacious and ultra-competitive, and will bring a great skill level and craftiness, but ultimately her best attribute is her nose for the goal and ability to score."
Ashley Soto – 5'4" – Defender – Long Beach, Calif. – Los Alamitos HS – SoCal Blues
Soto is another local Southern California prospect out of Long Beach, who also has experience with the Mexican National U-20 and U-17 squads. She played on the 2017 U-20 CONCACAF Championship team, starting and playing every minute for Mexico to help the team qualify for the U-20 World Cup. Soto was also a starter on Mexico's quarterfinal squad in the U-17 World Cup in 2016, winning bronze at the Tournament of Gradisca and finishing second in CONCACAF that year as well.
At Los Alamitos High, Soto earned All-Sunset League first team honors and also ran track and swam for the Griffins. A teammate of Hocking on the SoCal Blues, Soto also helped the club to state and national championships.
Soto on why she chose USC: "USC is my dream school because of the great academic reputation, its history, location, and Pac-12 soccer program, along with having a chance to be coached by Keidane after seeing the way he coaches the girls, his style of play, his passion and being able to talk to him with ease. Of course, I've also been raised to "Fight On" since I was a baby given that my parents and great-grandparents graduated from SC!"
McAlpine on Soto: "Ashley is a terrific outside back. She is a very tough defender who is versatile as well. She can pass the ball really well and play in the midfield if we needed her to. Her experience with the Mexican U-20's is also going to serve her well as she transitions into the program."
Madeline Vergura – 5'8" – Midfielder – Concord, Mass. – Concord-Carlisle HS – FC Stars
Vergura is the highest ranked of the Trojans' incoming freshmen according to Top Drawer Soccer, which tabs her as the 17th-ranked player in the 2018 class. Vergura also comes in with Youth National Team experience, competing for the United States' U-18 and U-16 squads. Vergura captained the U-18 USWNT in a game against England and also started against Norway. She started in games against Iran and Mexico with the U-16 squad.
As the Trojans' lone East Coast recruit, Vergura starred for Concord-Carlisle HS and FC Stars, despite her time being limited by National Team commitments. Vergura was twice nominated for the Gatorade State Player of the Year award and earned All-League and All-State first team honors. In 2015, despite missing two weeks of the season due to a National Team call-up, she led the team with eight assists and scored six goals, and was the team's points leader in 2016 with 13 goals and five assists, again despite missing time. She also played varsity golf and was a High Honor Student all four years. Vergura helped FC Stars into the ECNL Top 16 in 2014, 2015 and 2017, and scored the game-winner to advance the team to the ECNL Final Four in 2016.
Vergura on why she chose USC: "I chose USC because it offers the ability to compete for national titles while earning a world-class education. USC's diverse, urban location will provide me with a rich set of opportunities."
McAlpine on Vergura: "Maddy is a very good passer of the ball. She is a playmaker out of the midfield and has the ability to link play and see things that a lot of people don't see. I think she is going to be fantastic as a player who helps us build the attack and keep the ball for long periods of time."
Logan Wells – 5'4" – Defender – Chula Vista, Calif. – Eastlake HS – San Diego Surf
Wells comes to USC after primarily competing for the San Diego Surf on the club circuit, helping her club reach a No. 1 national ranking three years in a row (2013-15). Wells led the Surf in assists with 12 as a defender in 2015 as the team was an ECNL National Finalist. She also helped lead the team to a USYSA National Championship in 2014 and four Surf Cup Championships during her tenure. Wells was a member of the U.S. Soccer ODP pool in 2012 and 2013, and participated in the 2013 Nike Pro+ Interregional Event.
Wells on why she chose USC: "I chose USC because of the amazing coaching staff, family-like environment, and competitive nature of the academics and athletics that will drive me to be my best."
McAlpine on Wells: "Logan is a really good outside back who unfortunately had some injuries, so we are going to have to get her feet back on the ground. But we expect her to be a good defender, good going forward, good on the ball and have a good serving ability. She will add excellent depth to our backline."
Women's Soccer - USC 0, Washington 1: Highlights
Thursday, September 11
Women’s Soccer - USC 0, Portland 0 : Highlights (08/28/25)
Thursday, August 28
Women's Soccer - USC 4, NMST 0: Highlights (8/24/25)
Sunday, August 24
Women's Soccer - USC 3, Pepperdine 2: Highlights
Thursday, August 21
