After a historic 2020-21 season from Jeff Kampersal and Penn State women’s hockey, one of the team’s key contributors has earned one of the nation’s highest honors.

On Thursday, goaltender Josie Bothun was named the Rookie of the Year by USCHO.com. She was already selected as the CHA Goalie of the Year, placed on both the CHA first team and CHA all-rookie teams of the year, and was named a finalist for the WHCA’s Women’s Hockey National Goaltender of the Year award.

Bothun was a massive part of the Nittany Lions’ first-ever CHA regular-season title. She ranked second in the NCAA in goals-against average (1.44), wins (16), and minutes played (1,254). Even in a shortened campaign, Bothun broke a plethora of program records, including a historic shutout streak that lasted 263 minutes and 54 seconds. She also posted a 5-2 record in one-goal games and made at least 20 saves in 16 of her 21 starts.

Bothun joins teammate Kiara Zanon as two Nittany Lions to earn national rookie of the year awards.

Penn State finished the season 16-3-2, ranked the No. 8 team in the country. Despite that, the Nittany Lions fell in the first round of the CHA Tournament and were snubbed of an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament.