Karenna Groff, former MIT soccer star, killed in plane crash

The 2022 NCAA woman of the year was one of six people who died in a plane crash Saturday in upstate New York.

Former MIT soccer player Karenna Groff died when the twin-engine plane crashed in Copake, New York, killing everyone on board – including members of her family – according to officials and family members who spoke to the New York Times and the Associated Press.

The Mitsubishi MU-2B was headed to Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York, when it crashed into an open field about 20 miles southeast of the airport. The incident is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Who was Karenna Groff?

A native of Weston, Massachusetts, Groff was a Division III All-American soccer player at MIT while studying biomedical engineering. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded a company that helped create a new design of masks for essential workers. For her on- and off-field accomplishments, Groff received the prestigious NCAA woman of the year award.

“Really, this recognition is a testament to my MIT women’s soccer family and all of the guidance, support and friendship they have provided for me over the years,” she said in a 2023 interview.

At MIT, Groff was a three-time all-conference forward and was the second-leading scorer in school history. A two-time team captain, she tied the school record with four goals in one game against Worcester State in 2019 and ranks second on MIT’s career goals list with 50.

She was also a first-team Academic All-American in 2021 and second team in 2020 and 2022.

In addition to being named NCAA woman of the year for 2022, she was a previous nominee for the award in 2021.