McKenzie’s season over at Virginia Tech
Shai McKenzie’s freshman football season at Virginia Tech ended sooner than anybody expected.
McKenzie, the former standout running back at Washington High School who helped the Prexies advance to the 2013 WPIAL Class AA championship game, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Virginia Tech’s game Sept. 27 against Western Michigan. McKenzie was injured when tackled during the fourth quarter and suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee. It is the same knee McKenzie injured a little more than a year ago during his senior season at Wash High.
McKenzie had rushed a game-high 18 times against Western Michigan and gained 87 yards, which included a four-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
For the season, McKenzie rushed for 269 yards on 53 carries and three TDs. He scored a touchdown in the Hokies’ upset at Ohio State. In his collegiate debut, Mckenzie rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown against William & Mary.
Because he played in five games, McKenzie is not eligible for a medical redshirt. He will miss spring practice.
Three-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference goalkeeper Brittany Hoffman has surpassed 500 career saves for New Jersey City.
A McMurray native and Peters Township graduate, Hoffman recorded her 500th save during a recent match against Rutgers-Camden. She made nine saves, including one on a penalty kick, during a 1-0 loss. It was the third consecutive time Hoffman has stopped a penalty shot.
“Brit was amazing again,” NJCU coach Michael Vivino said after the game. “From the second we saw her in warmups, we knew she was going to be at her best. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do anything on the offensive side to help.”
Hoffman, who has been named NJCU’s Athlete of the Week seven times during her career, has played in 62 games and has a goals-against-average of 2.13.
Veronica Rothka, a sophomore striker from Canonsburg, is the leading scorer for the West Liberty women’s team.
Rothka has three goals and one assist through nine games for the Hilltoppers (2-4-3). She scored the lone goal in West Liberty’s 1-0 victory over Urbana Sept. 13 and scored in the 56th minute to give the Hilltoppers a 1-1 tie in the season opener against Lincoln.
Nevin Hagman is a big reason why Bucknell is off to a 4-1 start.
A senior from McMurray and a Peters Township graduate, Hagman is Bucknell’s starting right guard. It is his third year as a starter and second at guard after playing right tackle as a sophomore.
Hagman has started 24 of Bucknell’s last 27 games. He has helped the Bison average 393.2 yards total offense per game this season and 4.8 yards per rushing attempt.
Quad Law had a big game Saturday for Gannon during a 31-28 loss to Slippery Rock in a battle of previously unbeaten teams.
A junior wide receiver and kick returner from Donora, Law caught nine passes for 127 yards and had three rushes for 16 yards. It was the fourth career 100-yard receiving game for Law, who has 22 receptions on the season.
Law has caught at least one pass in 298 consecutive games.
Damon Goggins, a senior linebacker from Donora is the third-leading tackler for Muskingum.
A Ringgold graduate, Goggins has 31 tackles for the Muskies. His best game came against No. 3-ranked Mount Union when he made nine tackles along with intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble.
Tom Thorpe of Charleroi is the fourth-leading tackler for Thiel. A senior outside linebacker, Thorpe has made 23 tackles, which includes three quarterback sacks. He also has forced a fumble. Thorpe made seven tackles, including four for losses, in the Tomcats’ game Sept. 13 against Bethany.
Stephanie Slater is having a stellar season for Lehigh.
A junior from McDonald and a South Fayette graduate, Slater is second on the team in kills and is third in blocks for the Mountain hawks, who are 11-8. Slater has had 16 kills in a match three times, against George Mason, William & Mary and Army. She has 151 kills for the season and averages 2.85 kills per set. Her 30 blocks ranks third on the team.