Seneca High School senior Mackenzie Hoffman was on her way to breaking the school girls soccer record for most goals in a season last year, but didn’t quite make it. She made it a point for the 2016 soccer season to try to break that record.
Hoffman went above and beyond that goal this year, breaking two Seneca records. On Oct. 7, Hoffman broke the season goals record in the game against Bishop Eustace Prep School and, on Oct. 18, Hoffman broke the record for career goals against Winslow Township.
“I felt pretty happy. It was a great accomplishment that I worked really hard for,” Hoffman said.
“I’m very happy for her. She is a very hard worker, off-season and in-season,” Ron Jensen, girls soccer coach, said. “On the field, she really turns it on, getting intense and giving it her all. The younger kids, they see someone who they can play like. She isn’t the fastest or the strongest, but she is one of the hardest-working kids.”
Hoffman has been playing soccer since she was 5, and it was a no brainer she would continue with it into high school.
“I fell in love with the game at an early age,” Hoffman said. “I love that it is not that easy. You have to have a lot of technique and compete.”
Playing as a center midfielder or forward, Hoffman, along with two other players last year, scored 11 goals for the season, only one away from the season record of 12, set in 2011 by Shelby Lyon.
“I really wanted to get back to that number and try to beat it,” Hoffman said.
According to Hoffman, she didn’t try to do any special training to achieve her goal. She just played the game and tried her best.
“She has a nose for the goal. Keeping her on the field and involved is success for her and success for the team,” Jensen said.
At the Bishop Eustace game, Hoffman scored her 13th goal with a penalty kick that tied the game and sent it to overtime, where the Golden Eagles won, 3–2.
In the game against Winslow Township, Hoffman scored her 26th career goal, which broke the previous Seneca girls soccer record, and helped lead the team to victory, 3–0.
“One of the teachers announced (the broken record) at the game. The Winslow team stopped and clapped for me … Everyone (on the Seneca team) came up and hugged me,” Hoffman said. “It was a very special moment. I love I got to share it with my team.”
“It’s nice that we’re having a record set. For it to be this kind of record is terrific. It doesn’t happen very often,” Jensen said.
Hoffman thanked her coaches, parents and teammates for helping her achieve these records.
As of Wednesday, Oct. 26, Hoffman has 17 goals for the season and 28 career goals. The regular season ended last Friday, and the playoffs are happening. According to Hoffman, any goals scored during the playoffs would also go toward the records.
Hoffman would love to get back to the finals and become champions, as well as go to the state finals. Last year, Seneca was the surprise team of the playoffs, as it made it all the way to the sectional finals, but had a heartbreaking loss against Toms River South, 3–2.
“We want to get back to the final championships,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman is not sure where she wants to go to college or what she wants to major in, but she knows she wants to continue to play soccer.
