Nate Leopold made a fast transition from high school to college football last season and has carried the momentum over to his sophomore year at John Carroll.
Leopold, a Franklin Regional product, made a key impact in two facets of his team’s opening game Saturday.
He registered a career-best eight tackles, one for a loss, and returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown in a 21-7 victory over Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
A 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back, Leopold made his debut last season against the same opponent and had four tackles and a forced fumble.
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Football
Cal (Pa.): Freshman kicker Keaton Hier (Penn-Trafford) had a productive debut for the Vulcans, connecting on eight extra points and a 22-yard field goal in a 59-13 win over St. Anselm.
Redshirt freshman Aaron Carr (Norwin) had a pair of tackles.
Lock Haven: Freshman running back John Gay IV (Penn-Trafford) scored his second touchdown of the season on a 13-yard rush as the Leopards lost to Monmouth, 24-21. He ran for 24 yards on six carries.
St. Francis (Pa.): Redshirt sophomore Gio Vonne Sanders (Jeannette) had a career-high nine tackles and one-half of a sack in the Red Flash’s 44-7 loss to James Madison.
Saint Vincent: A number of area players saw action in the Bearcats’ season-opening game, the debut of new coach Aaron Smetanka. SVC lost to Ithaca, 66-28.
Sophomore Alvin Ross (Greensburg Central Catholic) and freshman Iven Etienne (Latrobe), saw limited carries but played for the Bearcats.
Senior Sam Nowicki (Greensburg Central Catholic) had seven catches for 95 yards, and freshman quarterback Brady Walker (Gateway) completed 25 of 39 passes for 280 yards and two scores. On defense, senior Ben Davis and junior Jeremy Wodarek tied for the team lead with nine tackles apiece.
Men’s soccer
Duquesne: Freshman Carter Breen (Norwin), last year’s Trib Westmoreland Player of the Year, has appeared in three games and has an assist for the Dukes (2-0-1).
Pitt-Johnstown: Freshman goalkeeper Sage Parsley (Greensburg Salem) made his college debut in net, played 11 minutes and helped contribute to a 4-0 shutout against Penn State New Kensington.
Women’s soccer
Cal (Pa.): Junior defender Anna Billey (Mt. Pleasant) scored her first goal of the season as the Vulcans downed West Liberty, 2-0. Junior midfielder Kellie Lynch (Greensburg Salem) and sophomore defender Christiana Czegan (Mt. Pleasant) also started for Cal.
Pitt-Greensburg: Freshman Ashley Lucas scored two goals as the Bobcats (3-0) posted their third straight shutout, 3-0, over Muskingum. UPG has outshot the opposition 47-24.
Rutgers: Redshirt freshman Emily Harrigan (Norwin) scored her first collegiate goal in a 4-1 victory over Hofstra. She has started all six games this season for the Scarlet Knights (5-0-1).
