The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Women’s Soccer Team (6-1-1) edged past Catholic University (4-2-1) in a closely contested non-conference match held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. A second-half goal by Alyssa McLane lifted the Seahawks to a 1-0 victory, marking their sixth win of the season.
How it Happened
The first half saw both teams battling to a 0-0 stalemate. Neither side was able to break through, with St. Mary’s and Catholic evenly matched in offensive opportunities. Each team managed four shots, though only Catholic posed a threat with two shots on goal. Seahawks’ goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland was forced to make two critical saves to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
The tide shifted in favor of St. Mary’s early in the second half. In the 51st minute, midfielder Alyssa McLane took advantage of a chance, scoring her third goal of the season unassisted. Her strike was the only goal of the game, giving the Seahawks a lead they would not relinquish.
St. Mary’s continued to press their advantage, with Ashlyn Bonner and Gracie Tourangeau testing the Catholic goalkeeper shortly after McLane’s goal. Both players saw their efforts on goal turned away, but the Seahawks maintained their slim lead.
Despite a few late opportunities from Catholic, Bland and the Seahawk defense held firm, preventing an equalizer. Bland made three crucial saves in the second half, bringing her total to five for the match.
Inside the Box Score
- Alyssa McLane’s goal in the 51st minute marked her third tally of the season.
- Megan Rusk led St. Mary’s with a team-high three shots.
- Kyleigh Bland recorded five saves, ensuring her side’s clean sheet.
St. Mary’s outshot Catholic 9-8 overall, with the Seahawks registering three shots on target compared to Catholic’s five. Despite the close scoreline, the Seahawks’ defensive effort in the second half, combined with timely saves from Bland, secured the narrow victory.
Next Matchup
The Seahawks will return to action on September 21, when they host Elizabethtown College at 1:00 PM in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. They will look to continue their strong start to the season and build on their current momentum.
