Athlete of the Month: Record breaking field hockey senior playing out final games

Published by adviser, Author: Cody Nespor - Sports Editor, Date: October 11, 2016
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On Sept. 17th this year senior field hockey forward scored a goal in a 5-2 Slippery Rock win over Bellarmine University. The goal was the 26th of McKay’s career, making her the first field hockey player in Rock history to score more than 25 goals in their career.

McKay is not a stranger to breaking Slippery Rock records. The career goals record was the fourth individual scoring record McKay has broken in the last two years. Last fall she claimed the records for points scored in a single-season (38), goals scored in a single-season (16) and points scored in a career (then 52). McKay also owns the average records for points per game in a single-season (2.11), goals per game in a single season (0.89), points per game in a career (currently 1.10), goals per game in a career (currently 0.44) and assists per game in a career (currently 0.21).

McKay had a break-out 2015 season, being named an All-American honoree and as a first team All-PSAC selection.

Despite all the individual success and accolades, McKay has continued to be team-oriented and puts the team’s success above her own.

“I try not to really think about the records and just play for my team and try to get the wins,” McKay said. “(Owning the records) is something that is a unique and fun thing and I’m glad that I can represent Slippery Rock in a positive way like that.”

“Megan’s a really, I would say, selfless player,” SRU head coach Julie Swiney said. “She definitely puts the team before herself and this year has been doing some different things because she is double and triple teamed, so she’s been needing to pass a little bit more and try some new things to create opportunities for the team to score goals.”

A captain on the 2016 team, McKay played in nine games and scored six goals and 14 total points in September. She led the team to victories over St. Thomas Aquinas, Seton Hill and Bellarmine.

McKay feels she has picked up well from where she left off in 2015.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to keep moving forward with this season, coming off my last season,” McKay said. “I think I can really thank my teammates for helping me out with that. They’re really supportive and they definitely are a huge reason why I’m seeing success.”

With six games left in her senior season, McKay can continue to solidify herself as on of the best field hockey players to ever don a Slippery Rock uniform.

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