After earning Horizon League all-freshmen accolades last season, it should not come as a surprise that Penn-Trafford graduate Malia Kearns is making an impact already as a sophomore at Robert Morris.
She scored a goal and registered an assist in the team’s first three games, all wins.
Her assist came in the opener, a 3-0 shutout, and she found the net in another 3-0 win, over Akron.
Kearns started all 18 games last year and finished with two goals and three assists. Nine of her 21 shots were on frame.
Another sophomore, Paloma Swankler (Norwin) also has played in all three games for the Colonials (4-0), who are off to their best start in program history.
Swankler had an assist in a 4-1 win over Saint Francis (Pa.).
Women’s soccer
Pitt-Greensburg: Big things are expected from the Bobcats this fall. They are No. 1 in the AMCC preseason coaches poll as they chase their third conference title in four seasons.
UPG is set to return AMCC preseason players of the year Megan Hickey (offense) and Nylah Pannebaker (defense). Hickey was second in the conference with 18 goals and 42 points, while Pannebaker had nine shutouts and allowed just two goals in AMCC play.
Sophomore Hailey Kepner and junior Paige John also come back as dependable goalkeepers.
A pair of local sophomores on the roster are defender Hannah Gesinski (Mt. Pleasant) and forward Kylie Smith (Greensburg Salem).
West Virginia: Mackenzie Aunkst (Penn-Trafford) has had a lengthy college career, one pinged by a knee injury that sidelined her for several months.
The covid year came in handy for Aunkst, a defender who came back for a fifth year with the Mountaineers.
Aunkst redshirted in 2018. Since, she has played in 64 career games or, 3,887 minutes. The hard-nosed leader is a key to WVU’s back line.
