Player of the Week: Kevin Groeninger from St. Margaret’s Episcopal (Calif.)

Kevin Groeninger, St. Margaret’s Episcopal (Calif.)
The senior became the 14th player in California history to reach 300 career points with a four-goal game against Newport Harbor (Calif.) on March 5. That performance helped the Tartans to a 17-3 win.

He stepped up his game in Game 2, scoring six goals in a 12-10 win over defending Texas state champion The Woodlands (Texas).

“I got to 300 during the last game and I was really happy about that,” Groeninger said. “I didn’t know how close I was to the [California] record after last season. I always thought it was really far away, but I realized I have a pretty good shot at it.”

Through two games, Groeninger has 10 goals and two assists to bring his career totals to 309 points. The Bryant commit is now only 83 points away from breaking the state record for most points in a career.

“It’s surreal. When I started high school I was just a freshman playing attack with two senior leaders. They helped mentor me,” Groeninger said. “After all these years, it’s surreal to think that I have a shot at it. My teammates have helped me so much.”

He has a chance to do what no other player in California has done - score 200 career goals and 200 career assists. Groeninger has been balanced throughout his career with 156 goals and 153 assists. Nicholas DeMaio came closest to being a 200-200 man with 198 goals and 190 assists.

Groeninger had 64 goals and 63 assists last season. If he repeats that season he will be California’s first 200-200 man.

“I always prided myself on not being just a goal scorer. I really like passing the ball and sharing the ball with my teammates,” Groeninger said. “With my soccer background, I was more of a pass-first person in soccer. I’ve always been working a lot on my shooting because the passing has always come a little bit easier for me.

Honorable Mentions

Mac Costin, Haverford School (Pa.)
Costin scored six goals as the Fords defeated Boys’ Latin (Md.) 15-10 in each team’s season opener. Costin’s performance helped Haverford School jump out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Kyle Hatcher, New Hanover (N.C.)
Hatcher scored four of New Hanover’s nine goals in a 9-7 win over Ashley (N.C.) in the Wildcats season opener. He scored three more goals in a loss to Hoggard (N.C.).

Gerard Kane, Lambert (Ga.)
Kane scored seven points on four goals and three assists in Lambert’s 11-6 win over Ponte Vedra (Fla.) last week. Kane’s performance helped the Longhorns extend their winning streak to 28 games.

Aiden Koenig, Santiago (Calif.)
Koenig scored four goals in a 10-9 overtime win over Foothill (Calif.) last week. The victory was the first-ever for the Sharks over the Knights. Santiago is in its fourth year as a CIF program, according to MaxLaxOC.com. Koenig’s four goals led the team, while Dylan Varrati scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

Thomas Muldoon, Georgetown Prep (Md.)
Muldoon scored five goals last week to help the Hoyas to wins over two MIAA A Conference opponents. The senior scored three goals in the win over Severn (Md.) on March 9 to lead his team to a 13-6 win.

Macon Sumner, Hoggard (N.C.)
Sumner has been dominant in the Vikings first three games of the year. The junior won 69-of-74 faceoffs, including back-to-back games where he won 25-of-26. Sumner has also scooped up 51 ground balls in those games.

Christian Tomei, Oxbridge Academy (Fla.)
Tomei helped anchor the Thunderwolves’ defense, making 14 saves in a 9-6 win over defending Florida state champion Jupiter (Fla.). 

Logan Wheeler, Fuquay-Varina (N.C.)
Wheeler scored 17 points in three games last week, including a five-goal, three-assist performance against Holly Springs (N.C.). Wheeler scooped up 16 ground balls in addition to scoring nine goals and eight assists in three games.