UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State women’s soccer head coach Erica Dambach announced the addition of three transfers to the program on Tuesday morning.
The additions include defender Cassie Hiatt, forward Penelope Hocking and midfielder Olivia Smith.
Hiatt, a transfer from Texas Tech, and Hocking, a transfer from Southern California, join the Nittany Lions as fifth years while Smith comes to Happy Valley as a freshman transfer from Florida State.
“The transfer portal has been very good for us this spring, and we have been able to bring some incredible talent to Happy Valley,” said associate head coach Ann Cook. “These three additions will be added to an already impressive class, and we honestly couldn’t be more excited about our newcomers!”
The three transfers further bolster the Penn State roster after the Nittany Lions welcomed seven signees to their 2022 recruiting class on National Signing Day. The initial freshman class was ranked No. 5 in the country per Top Drawer Soccer and was the program’s fifth Top-5 class in the last 9 years.
“We have a good mix of defenders and attackers and all kinds of talent and experience,” Cook continued. “Some were able to join us for this past semester and have already impressed and grown into our culture. We expect several in this group to be able to step in and impact right away and have incredibly high expectations for all of their careers here. We can’t wait to get started!”
Now with the addition of Hiatt, Hocking and Smith, TopDrawerSoccer boosted the program’s recruiting class ranking to No. 1 in the nation.
Meet our newest Nittany Lions
Cassie Hiatt
Parker, CO | 6-0 | Defender
Individual Honors
- 2021 First Team Academic All-Big 12
- 2020 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- 2020 First Team Academic All-Big 12
- 2019 Third Team All-American
- 2019 First Team All-Midwest
- 2019 First Team All-Big 12
- 2019 First Team Academic All-Big 12
- 2019 Preseason All-Big 12
- 2018 All-Big 12 Freshman Team
- 2018 Texas Tech Rookie of the Year
- 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team
Prior to Penn State:
Played four years at Texas Tech…Appeared in 71 career-games….In 2021 started all 19 games…In 2020 was appointed as a team captain…Played in nine games…In 2019 played in 20 games in an All-America-caliber season…Helped Tech to ten…
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