Update, June 16:

Penn State Athletics officially announced the addition of Cooke Friday afternoon.

Get ya popcorn ready… because the reigning B1G Champs just signed THE NATIONAL SCORING LEADER

Happy Valley, say hello to Rebecca Cooke#WeAre pic.twitter.com/fCwCgzWaDi

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) June 16, 2023

“We are incredibly excited to be adding a player of Rebecca’s caliber to our roster for the fall of 2023,” head coach Erica Dambach said in a release. “We expect that she will fit right into our culture and provide an immediate impact here in Happy Valley. Rebecca is a proven goal scorer and an exciting attacking player in every sense of those terms, leading the nation in both total goals and total points. We can’t wait to see the things she will accomplish in the Blue & White this season.” 

Cooke also shared her excitement regarding her transfer ahead of the 2023 season.

“I chose Penn State because it’s the perfect place for me to grow, both as an athlete and a person,” Cooke said. “The sense of family and togetherness I felt while playing against the Nittany Lions in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year was undeniable. Penn State women’s soccer is a highly competitive program, which is exactly the challenge I need to push myself to become the best athlete I can be. As soon as I visited PSU, I knew that this was the right place for me. I’m extremely excited to start this next chapter in my career.”

Original Story:

The nation’s leading female Divison I goal scorer from the 2022 season is heading to Happy Valley.

Quinnipiac forward Rebecca Cooke announced her commitment to Penn State women’s soccer Thursday on Instagram.

Cooke, a Dublin, Ireland, native, arrived at Quinnipiac and immediately became a difference-maker on the pitch. In her freshman season, Cooke started in all seven matches and led the team with four goals and four assists in the Bobcats’ shortened season. She was named the MAAC Rookie of the Year and ranked third in the conference in goals.

The following season, Cooke started in and appeared in 18 matches en route to an All-MAAC first-team designation and 13 goals and two assists.

Most recently, as a junior, Cooke registered an incredible 22 goals and seven assists for a total of 51 points. She led female Division I soccer in goals scored, was named the MAAC Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the Division I Women’s All-American team.

The Bobcats’ 2022 season came to an end at the hand of Penn State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in November.

Cooke will arrive in Happy Valley following the departures of forwards Penelope Hocking and Ally Schlegel to the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League.

In the Nittany Lions’ 30th campaign, the group will aim to continue its dominance coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.