ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – In a remarkable display of skill and team cohesion, the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team celebrated its third consecutive undefeated season in conference play this Tuesday. Dominating the field against Notre Dame of Maryland University, the Seahawks notched an overwhelming 26-1 victory, solidifying their position as the top seed for the upcoming United East Conference Women’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament starting April 27.
Junior attacker Hailey Betch, from Severna Park, Maryland, was the standout player of the match, tying her career-highs with nine goals and 11 points, and reaching a personal milestone of 50 goals for the season.
The game commenced with St. Mary’s (8-5, 4-0 UEC) establishing an imposing 9-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to significant contributions from senior captain MC Mortimer, junior midfielder Madison Laine, and sophomore attacker Katelin Scala. Their relentless offense extended their lead to 12-0 by the second period. Notre Dame (2-6, 0-1 UEC) managed a single goal before halftime, but the second half saw St. Mary’s further outpacing their opponents with 12 unanswered goals, five of which came from Betch.
Statistically, the Seahawks dominated across the board. The team set a season-high with 55 shots and led in ground balls with a 27-5 margin. They also edged out Notre Dame in draw controls 16-14, showcasing the depth of their squad’s talent and their effective control of the game.
Other notable performances for St. Mary’s included Mortimer with three goals and two assists, Sanne Elling with her second hat trick of the season, and Bella Dunigan, who contributed a goal and a career-best four assists. Defensively, Rachael Freeman led with five ground balls, underscoring the team’s comprehensive effort both in attack and defense.
For Notre Dame, Jade Stewart was a lone beacon, contributing the team’s only goal and leading with four draw controls. Goalie Leah Hasberry made 11 saves despite the team’s struggles, marking their third consecutive defeat.
Looking ahead, St. Mary’s College is set to face the Scottish National Team on April 12 at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, as they continue their preparation for the championship tournament and aim to extend their impressive win streak.
