Briefs for print
Players honored
Washington & Jefferson freshman running back EJ Thompson was named Presidents’ Athletic Conference Football Rookie of the Week.
This week’s award represents the third consecutive award for the freshman. It also makes Thompson the first athlete to win the PAC football rookie award three times since its implementation prior to the 2016 season.
Thompson established new season highs on Saturday, leading all players with 16 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown in W&J’s 34-33 overtime Homecoming win against Westminster. It marked the third-straight game in which the freshman has reached the end zone. He also scored the two-point conversion that tied the game at 27-27 with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, prompting overtime.
This season, Thompson is W&J’s second-leading rusher, totaling 296 yards on 51 attempts for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. He has found the end zone three times.
- The California University football team earned a pair of weekly awards from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on Monday morning. Senior Michael Keir was named Co-West Offensive Athlete of the Week and Will Brazill was named West Special Teams Athlete of the Week.
Keir and Brazill helped the Vulcans post a 38-35 road victory against Gannon on Saturday. The Vulcans now sit in a four-way tie for second place in the PSAC West standings with two weeks left of divisional play.
A native of Philadelphia, Keir set a career high with 435 passing yards and finished with four touchdown passess on 20-of-34 attempts with no interceptions.
Keir ranks third in the PSAC and No. 12 in the country this season with 2,252 passing yards. He has 15 passing touchdowns in his second year as a starter while completing 58.3 percent (169-of-290) of his attempts.
Brazill finished with eight points against the Golden Knights behind five PAT attempts and a field goal. He made an 18-yard field goal early in the second quarter, which eventually proved to be the difference in the final score.
- Washington & Jefferson senior Jordan Toohey has been named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Toohey led the Presidents to a 3-0 record in PAC action last week with five goals on 11 shots, including eight on goal. In the match against Saint Vincent on Wednesday, she recorded her third career four-goal game to lead the Presidents to a 6-0 win. She followed that up by providing the lone goal in W&J’s 1-0 win over Westminster on Saturday, tying Nicole Bosley and Holly Shipley for the most career goals in program history (61).
Penguins recall goaltender
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled goaltender Casey DeSmith from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Forward Carter Rowney has been placed on injured reserve.
DeSmith, 26, is joining an NHL roster for the first time in his career. He has made three starts for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, posting a 3-0 record to accompany his 0.98 goals-against average, .965 save percentage and one shutout. DeSmith ranks second in the AHL in goal-against average and third in save percentage.
At The Meadows
Miss Read followed live cover into the final turn, then roared wide through the sloppy stretch to capture Monday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Miss Read, who had been performing on the Delaware-Maryland circuit for owner/trainer Kellye Kramer, made her Meadows debut successful when she scored for Jim Pantaleano in 1:53.4. The hard-used Spreester was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, while Fox Valley Charm rallied for show. The 4-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Yahoos vaulted over $100,000 in earnings.