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DIFFERENCE-MAKER Rodriguez's goal against Duke gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 vic- tory and the first na- tional championship in the program's history. In January, she was named the winner of the MAC Hermann Tro- phy, which goes to the nation's top player. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics W hen she arrived at Penn State in the summer of 2012, Raquel Ro- driguez didn't know much about the brand of soccer that American colleges played. She had grown up in Costa Rica, and although her credentials were im- peccable – she had seen international competition as a member of her home- land's U-17 and U-20 teams – the unfa- miliarity of her new surroundings le1 her feeling a bit intimidated when she /rst stepped on the /eld. Said Rodriguez, "I felt like the teams we were playing against were giants." That feeling quickly subsided, as she went on to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. By her senior year, she and her teammates were the ones doing all the intimidating. Ranked sixth in the 2015 preseason poll, Penn State was the giant that opposing teams wanted desperately to slay. They didn't have much luck. In De- cember, the Nittany Lions completed a remarkable NCAA tournament run, outscoring their six postseason opponents 20-0 en route to the /rst national cham- pionship in the program's history. Ro- driguez, true to form, played a pivotal role in bringing the trophy back to Uni- versity Park. It was her le1-footed goal against Duke in the 72nd minute of the title match that delivered Penn State its crown, holding up as the only score in a 1-0 victory. For her e0orts, Rodriguez recently re- ceived the college game's ultimate indi- vidual honor. She was named the winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is given by the Missouri Athletic Club of St. Louis to the women's and men's national players of the year. It's the Heisman Trophy GOING OUT ON TOP After an epic senior year, Raquel Rodriguez wins college soccer's highest honor | VARSITY VIEWS

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