University Southern California Trojans
Friday, November 8
Los Angeles, Calif.
6:00 PM
USC
at
UCLA
Players Mentioned
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GK
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MF/D
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Photo by: John McGillen
No. 9 USC Closes Regular Season at Crosstown Rival No. 14 UCLA
November 05, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Features
THIS WEEK - The No. 9 USC women's soccer team closes out the regular season with a crosstown rivalry matchup at No. 14 UCLA on Friday night.
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GAME 19 -Â No. 9 USC (14-3-1, 7-3-0) at No. 14 UCLA (13-4-1, 7-3-0) - Friday, Nov. 8, 6 p.m. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
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HOW TO FOLLOW - Friday's game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks. Links for the broadcast and live stats can be found on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter by following @USC_Wsoccer.
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SOCIAL MEDIA - Keep up with everything USC women's soccer this year by following the Trojans on all of their social media platforms. You can follow @USCWsoccer on Instagram and @USC_Wsoccer on Twitter, and like USC Women's Soccer on Facebook.
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SERIES VS UCLA - USC is 6-25-1 all-time against the Bruins. UCLA has won the last three meetings, including a 3-2 overtime victory at StubHub Center last year. The Trojans last picked up a win in the series in 2015 at UCLA.
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LAST WEEK - The Trojans picked up a pair of shutouts on the road in Oregon last week, beating both the Ducks and Beavers 1-0. Penelope Hocking scored the winner against Oregon and Ashleigh Plumptre scored against Oregon State.
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RIVALRY IMPLICATIONS: USC and UCLA are currently tied for second in the Pac-12 standings and Friday's game will decide who takes second outright. More importantly, Friday's game has plenty of postseason implications as the teams are No. 7 (USC) and No. 8 (UCLA) in RPI, and currently jockeying for a high national seed. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday at 1:30 p.m. PT on NCAA.com.
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USC IN THE RANKINGS - The Trojans picked up a couple spots in the rankings this week, moving up two spots in the coaches poll to No. 9, and up two spots in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings to No. 10. Despite a pair of wins, the Trojans dropped two RPI points to No. 7.
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DYNAMIC DUO - Tara McKeown and Penelope Hocking have been an explosive combination up top for the Trojans, scoring 25 of the team's 35 goals and accounting for 61 of the team's 102 total points. At least one of the two have scored in all but five games this year and 11 times one of the two has assisted the other for a score. The two are one of just four sets of teammates in the NCAA with at least 11 goals each so far this year, and overall they are the sixth highest scoring duo in the country. McKeown's 14 goals this season matched Hocking's 14 from last year for the second best total in program history.
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McKEOWN'S SPECIAL SEASON - Tara McKeown is in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history with her team-leading 14 goals and seven assists. Her 35 total points are already the third most in a season in program history, and her 14 goals are tied for the second best season total every by a Trojan. McKeown's 2.38 points per game are good for 12th in the country this season, and her 14 goals are also 12th in the nation and second in the conference. She has picked up both National and Pac-12 Player of the Week twice this season. McKeown has four braces on the year, including scoring twice and assisting the game-winner in overtime against then-No. 1 Florida State. She has four game-winning goals on the season. Her 24 career goals are tied for seventh on the USC career list and her 19 career assists are good for seventh on that list as well.
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HOCKING CONTINUES TO SHINE: Penelope Hocking continues shine on the pitch after her stellar freshman season. Her 11 goals are good for third in the Pac-12 and 24 points are tied for fifth. She scored the game-winner against FSU in OT and notched her third career multi-goal game with two scores against Nebraska. Her five game-winning goals are second in the Pac-12. She is the first USC player to score at least 10 goals in each of her first two collegiate seasons after 14 goals last year in which she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Her 25 career goals are already tied for fifth on the USC career list.
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PLAYER NOTES -
TEAM NOTES -
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS -
Week 12: D Ashleigh Plumptre (1 GW goal) - TDS Team of the Week
Week 8: F Tara McKeown (3G, 1A) - TDS National Player of the Week, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
F Penelope Hocking (1G) - TDS honorable mention
Week 7: GK Anna Smith (PK save, shutout) - Pac-12, TDS honorable mention
D Kaylin Martin (1G, 1A) - Pac-12 Defender of the Week
Week 3: GK Anna Smith (7SV, 2SO, 0GA) - Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Week 2: F Tara McKeown (4G, 1A) - United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week / Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1: D Julia Bingham (drew PK) - TDS National Team of the Week
F Tara McKeown (2G, 1A) - TDS honorable mention
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STAT RANKINGS -
TEAM
LOADED PAC-12 - The Pac-12 is as tough as ever this season, with all but three teams above .500 overall and nine schools with at least 10 wins. The conference boasts four schools in the United Coaches Poll and six in the TDS Top 25. Three Pac-12 schools currently sit in the top 10 of the RPI ratings, five are in the top 25, nine are in the top 50 and none are lower than 65.
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FACING THE FLORIDAS - The Trojans scored a pair of big-time non-conference wins over two Florida schools earlier thisyear, beating Florida 3-1 on Aug. 29 at Banc of California Stadium and then taking down then-No. 1 Florida State at UCLA 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 1. Tara McKeown scored a brace in each game and assisted on the game-winner in overtime against FSU, setting up Penelope Hocking for the golden goal in the 98th minute.
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BATTLE AT THE BANC - The Trojans hosted a marquee doubleheader at Banc of California Stadium (home of LAFC) earlier this season. In the first ever collegiate games played at the stadium, UCLA beat Florida State 2-1 and the Trojans took down Florida 3-1. The four teams involved boast a total of six NCAA titles and have won four of the last six collegiate crowns (Florida State 2018/2014, USC 2016/2007, UCLA 2013, Florida 1998).
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NEW RECRUITS - USC welcomed the No. 3 recruiting class in the country this offseason, giving the Trojans back-to-back years with Top 5 classes. USC brought in a total of 12 players, with one transfer and 11 freshmen enrolling this fall. The Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150, including one in the top 10 and three in the top 25. Trojans in the rankings included: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
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SUMMER TRAVELS - The Trojans traveled to England and France this offseason, attending three World Cup Games on the trip. The Team spent 12 days overseas, starting in England with training, playing a friendly and sightseeing. The Trojans then Traveled to Paris, where they caught a pair of opening round games, including France's 4-0 win over South Korea in the very first game of the tournament. The trip concluded in Reims, where the team got to see the USWNT's historic 13-0 victory to open up their World Cup winning run.
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TOUGH ROAD - USC will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country this year as the Trojans face a total of four teams that have national titles, including Florida State and Stanford, which have both won twice, and Florida and UCLA, which have single titles to their names. Seven of the Trojans' opponents made it to last year's NCAA Tournament and six of those seven won at least one game in the postseason. AllWhiteKit.com has the Trojans' strength of schedule tied for 13th in the country according to their metrics.
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MAC HERMANN WATCH - Returning goalkeeper Kaylie Collins was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list as was Savannah DeMelo before her injury was announced.
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SEASON INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo will miss the season with an Achilles injury. Senior Daria Petredes is out with an injury and does not have a timetable for her return. Top recruit Croix Bethune is likely to miss the season after tearing her ACL and fellow incoming freshman Isabel Rolley will also most likely miss the season with an ankle injury. Freshman Hannah White is out with a foot injury as well.
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PAC-12 AWARDS - Seven Trojans were honored with Pac-12 awards in 2018, highlighted by Kaylie Collins being Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Penelope Hocking Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Collins, Ally Prisock, Leah Pruitt and Savannah DeMelo all earned All Pac-12 first team, Hocking and Julia Bingham earned second team honors and Tara McKeown was named to the third team. Hocking was also on the All-Freshman squad.
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ROSTER BREAKDOWN
WORLD CUP FRESHMAN - Olufolasade Adamolekun gave Trojan fans a sneak preview of her skills as she competed for Jamaica in the World Cup this past summer. Adamolekun, who also played in the U.S. youth system before deciding to compete for Jamaica, made a start against Italy in the group stage. She also competed for Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
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TROJANS IN THE NWSL - Trojan alums currently playing in the NWSL include Morgan Andrews, Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Seattle Reign), Mandy Freeman, Elizabeth Eddy (Sky Blue FC), Leah Pruitt (NC Courage), Samantha Johnson, Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC), Katie Johnson (Chicago Red Stars) and Ally Prisock (Houston Dash).
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GAME 19 -Â No. 9 USC (14-3-1, 7-3-0) at No. 14 UCLA (13-4-1, 7-3-0) - Friday, Nov. 8, 6 p.m. (Wallis Annenberg Stadium)
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HOW TO FOLLOW - Friday's game will be televised on Pac-12 Networks. Links for the broadcast and live stats can be found on the women's soccer schedule page at USCTrojans.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter by following @USC_Wsoccer.
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SOCIAL MEDIA - Keep up with everything USC women's soccer this year by following the Trojans on all of their social media platforms. You can follow @USCWsoccer on Instagram and @USC_Wsoccer on Twitter, and like USC Women's Soccer on Facebook.
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SERIES VS UCLA - USC is 6-25-1 all-time against the Bruins. UCLA has won the last three meetings, including a 3-2 overtime victory at StubHub Center last year. The Trojans last picked up a win in the series in 2015 at UCLA.
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LAST WEEK - The Trojans picked up a pair of shutouts on the road in Oregon last week, beating both the Ducks and Beavers 1-0. Penelope Hocking scored the winner against Oregon and Ashleigh Plumptre scored against Oregon State.
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RIVALRY IMPLICATIONS: USC and UCLA are currently tied for second in the Pac-12 standings and Friday's game will decide who takes second outright. More importantly, Friday's game has plenty of postseason implications as the teams are No. 7 (USC) and No. 8 (UCLA) in RPI, and currently jockeying for a high national seed. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday at 1:30 p.m. PT on NCAA.com.
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USC IN THE RANKINGS - The Trojans picked up a couple spots in the rankings this week, moving up two spots in the coaches poll to No. 9, and up two spots in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings to No. 10. Despite a pair of wins, the Trojans dropped two RPI points to No. 7.
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DYNAMIC DUO - Tara McKeown and Penelope Hocking have been an explosive combination up top for the Trojans, scoring 25 of the team's 35 goals and accounting for 61 of the team's 102 total points. At least one of the two have scored in all but five games this year and 11 times one of the two has assisted the other for a score. The two are one of just four sets of teammates in the NCAA with at least 11 goals each so far this year, and overall they are the sixth highest scoring duo in the country. McKeown's 14 goals this season matched Hocking's 14 from last year for the second best total in program history.
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McKEOWN'S SPECIAL SEASON - Tara McKeown is in the midst of one of the best seasons in program history with her team-leading 14 goals and seven assists. Her 35 total points are already the third most in a season in program history, and her 14 goals are tied for the second best season total every by a Trojan. McKeown's 2.38 points per game are good for 12th in the country this season, and her 14 goals are also 12th in the nation and second in the conference. She has picked up both National and Pac-12 Player of the Week twice this season. McKeown has four braces on the year, including scoring twice and assisting the game-winner in overtime against then-No. 1 Florida State. She has four game-winning goals on the season. Her 24 career goals are tied for seventh on the USC career list and her 19 career assists are good for seventh on that list as well.
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HOCKING CONTINUES TO SHINE: Penelope Hocking continues shine on the pitch after her stellar freshman season. Her 11 goals are good for third in the Pac-12 and 24 points are tied for fifth. She scored the game-winner against FSU in OT and notched her third career multi-goal game with two scores against Nebraska. Her five game-winning goals are second in the Pac-12. She is the first USC player to score at least 10 goals in each of her first two collegiate seasons after 14 goals last year in which she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Her 25 career goals are already tied for fifth on the USC career list.
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PLAYER NOTES -
- Kaylie Collins: Five shutouts this year give her 22 for her career, the 4th most in program history. Returned to action on 10/18 after being out with an injury since 8/25, playing the second half against Cal. Last year's Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year has started all games since.
- Anna Smith: Got wins over Florida and then-No. 1 Florida State in her first two career starts filling in for Collins in goal, and then picked up Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week after shutouts against Northern Arizona and Nebraska. Stopped a PK in the final minute to seal a 2-1 win over ASU and notched her third shutout against Arizona to again win Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week.
- A pair of Trojan newcomers had firsts in the game at Baylor, with Jaelyn Eisenhart scoring the first goal of her career and Olufolasade Adamolekun notching her first two assists.
- Kaylin Martin scored her first career goal in the final minute against ASU to give the Trojans a 2-1 win, and notched her first career assist on the game-winner against Arizona to earn Pac-12 Defender of the Week.
- Julia Bingham has been a mainstay on the backline for USC since coming to Troy as a freshman in 2016, starting 80 of the 84 games she has played in. Bingham has started 38 straight games dating back to last season, and prior to missing the 2018 opener, had a streak of 39 straight starts.
- Savianna Gomez leads all Trojan newcomers with four points on the year (1 goal, 2 assists).
- Ashleigh Plumptre switched to centerback from the midfield this year and has helped USC to eight shutouts. She also leads all Trojan defenders with four points (1 goal, 2 assists) after scoring the game-winner on a free kick against Oregon State.
- Natalie Jacobs is second on the team and seventh in the conference in assists with six this year. Including her time at Notre Dame, Jacobs has 24 career goals and 20 assists, making her the only member of the 20-20 club on the team.
TEAM NOTES -
- USC has recorded eight shutouts on the year, and has shut out three of its last four opponents.
- The Trojans finished non-conference play undefeated for the second straight season, marking the only two times in program history the team has made it through their non-conference schedule without a loss.
- USC has outscored opponents 35-18 this season and have outshot opponents 293-178.
- Nine different players have scored goals for the Trojans this season and 17 different players have points this year.
- The Trojans have 32 assists on their 35 goals. Only 8 Trojan goals have been unassisted.
- USC has had at least 10 wins every year since Head Coach Keidane McAlpine arrived (6 years).
PLAYER OF THE WEEKS -
Week 12: D Ashleigh Plumptre (1 GW goal) - TDS Team of the Week
Week 8: F Tara McKeown (3G, 1A) - TDS National Player of the Week, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
F Penelope Hocking (1G) - TDS honorable mention
Week 7: GK Anna Smith (PK save, shutout) - Pac-12, TDS honorable mention
D Kaylin Martin (1G, 1A) - Pac-12 Defender of the Week
Week 3: GK Anna Smith (7SV, 2SO, 0GA) - Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week
Week 2: F Tara McKeown (4G, 1A) - United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week / Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
Week 1: D Julia Bingham (drew PK) - TDS National Team of the Week
F Tara McKeown (2G, 1A) - TDS honorable mention
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STAT RANKINGS -
TEAM
- Corner Kicks Per Game (6.39) - 23rd NCAA
- Total Goals (35) - 4th Pac-12
- Goals Per Game (1.94) - 4th Pac-12Â
- Total Assists (32) - 4th Pac-12
- Total Points (102) - 4th Pac-12
- Shots Per Game (16.3) - 3rd Pac-12
- Corner Kicks (115) - 3rd Pac-12
- Points Per Game - McKeown (1.94) - 12th NCAA
- Goals Per Game - McKeown (0.78) - 15th NCAA
- Total Assists - McKeown (7.0) - 6th Pac-12
- Total Assists - N. Jacobs (6.0) - T-7th Pac-12
- Total Goals - McKeown (14.0) - 12th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- Total Goals - Hocking (11.0) - T-3rd Pac-12
- Total Points - McKeown (35.0) - 8th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- Total Points - Hocking (26.0) - T-5th Pac-12
- GW Goals - Hocking (5.0) - 20th NCAA, 2nd Pac-12
- GW Goals - McKeown (4.0) - T-3rd Pac-12
- Shots on Goal Per Game - McKeown (2.5) - 9th NCAAÂ
LOADED PAC-12 - The Pac-12 is as tough as ever this season, with all but three teams above .500 overall and nine schools with at least 10 wins. The conference boasts four schools in the United Coaches Poll and six in the TDS Top 25. Three Pac-12 schools currently sit in the top 10 of the RPI ratings, five are in the top 25, nine are in the top 50 and none are lower than 65.
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FACING THE FLORIDAS - The Trojans scored a pair of big-time non-conference wins over two Florida schools earlier thisyear, beating Florida 3-1 on Aug. 29 at Banc of California Stadium and then taking down then-No. 1 Florida State at UCLA 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 1. Tara McKeown scored a brace in each game and assisted on the game-winner in overtime against FSU, setting up Penelope Hocking for the golden goal in the 98th minute.
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BATTLE AT THE BANC - The Trojans hosted a marquee doubleheader at Banc of California Stadium (home of LAFC) earlier this season. In the first ever collegiate games played at the stadium, UCLA beat Florida State 2-1 and the Trojans took down Florida 3-1. The four teams involved boast a total of six NCAA titles and have won four of the last six collegiate crowns (Florida State 2018/2014, USC 2016/2007, UCLA 2013, Florida 1998).
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NEW RECRUITS - USC welcomed the No. 3 recruiting class in the country this offseason, giving the Trojans back-to-back years with Top 5 classes. USC brought in a total of 12 players, with one transfer and 11 freshmen enrolling this fall. The Trojans have seven players in the class ranked in the Top Drawer Soccer 150, including one in the top 10 and three in the top 25. Trojans in the rankings included: Croix Bethune (8), Olufolasade Adamolekun (22), Jaelyn Eisenhart (25), Hannah White (46), Lilly Babalola (109), Savianna Gomez (116), Savannah Kessler (122).
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SUMMER TRAVELS - The Trojans traveled to England and France this offseason, attending three World Cup Games on the trip. The Team spent 12 days overseas, starting in England with training, playing a friendly and sightseeing. The Trojans then Traveled to Paris, where they caught a pair of opening round games, including France's 4-0 win over South Korea in the very first game of the tournament. The trip concluded in Reims, where the team got to see the USWNT's historic 13-0 victory to open up their World Cup winning run.
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TOUGH ROAD - USC will once again face one of the toughest schedules in the country this year as the Trojans face a total of four teams that have national titles, including Florida State and Stanford, which have both won twice, and Florida and UCLA, which have single titles to their names. Seven of the Trojans' opponents made it to last year's NCAA Tournament and six of those seven won at least one game in the postseason. AllWhiteKit.com has the Trojans' strength of schedule tied for 13th in the country according to their metrics.
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MAC HERMANN WATCH - Returning goalkeeper Kaylie Collins was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list as was Savannah DeMelo before her injury was announced.
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SEASON INJURED LIST - All-American Savannah DeMelo will miss the season with an Achilles injury. Senior Daria Petredes is out with an injury and does not have a timetable for her return. Top recruit Croix Bethune is likely to miss the season after tearing her ACL and fellow incoming freshman Isabel Rolley will also most likely miss the season with an ankle injury. Freshman Hannah White is out with a foot injury as well.
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PAC-12 AWARDS - Seven Trojans were honored with Pac-12 awards in 2018, highlighted by Kaylie Collins being Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Penelope Hocking Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Collins, Ally Prisock, Leah Pruitt and Savannah DeMelo all earned All Pac-12 first team, Hocking and Julia Bingham earned second team honors and Tara McKeown was named to the third team. Hocking was also on the All-Freshman squad.
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ROSTER BREAKDOWN
- Returners: 19 / Newcomers: 11 (1 transfer, 10 freshmen) / Players lost: 9
- By class - GRAD: 1 / SR: 6 (1 RS) / JR: 7 (2 RS) / SO: 5 (1 RS) / FR: 11 (1 RS)
- By position - GK: 3 / DEF: 10 / MF: 11 / FWD: 6 (7 total players listed at multiple positions)
- By home state - CA: 17 / NV: 4 / GA: 4 / WA: 2 / MA, TX: 1 / England: 1
WORLD CUP FRESHMAN - Olufolasade Adamolekun gave Trojan fans a sneak preview of her skills as she competed for Jamaica in the World Cup this past summer. Adamolekun, who also played in the U.S. youth system before deciding to compete for Jamaica, made a start against Italy in the group stage. She also competed for Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
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TROJANS IN THE NWSL - Trojan alums currently playing in the NWSL include Morgan Andrews, Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Seattle Reign), Mandy Freeman, Elizabeth Eddy (Sky Blue FC), Leah Pruitt (NC Courage), Samantha Johnson, Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC), Katie Johnson (Chicago Red Stars) and Ally Prisock (Houston Dash).
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