Karenna Groff Among People Killed in Plane Crash, Was Named 2022 NCAA Woman of Year

Former MIT soccer player Karenna Groff was among the victims in a plane crash Saturday in Copake, New York, according to the Associated Press' Jake Offenhartz.

All six people aboard the private plane were killed. The passengers included Groff's father, mother and brother.

"They were a wonderful family," said John Santoro, whose son, James, also died in the crash, per Offenhartz. "The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We're all personally devastated."

Groff played five seasons at MIT and appeared in 94 games for the Engineers. She tallied 50 goals and 28 assists, and she was a first-team honoree in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference on three occasions.

Groff made just as big an impact away from the field. She helped to co-found openPPE, which sought to design new protective masks for essential workers. The NCAA named her its Woman of the Year for 2022.

Groff attended medical school at New York University after graduating from MIT, having majored in biological engineering.

An investigation into Saturday's crash by the National Transportation Safety Board is underway, and the full inquiry may not be completed for 12 to 24 months.