CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team dropped its second consecutive game on Saturday, falling 3-2 to Washington College in a non-conference matchup. Despite a strong effort, the Seahawks (2-4) couldn’t overcome the early lead established by the Shorewomen (4-3).
How It Happened
Washington College wasted no time establishing control of the match, scoring twice in the first three minutes. Kat Esposito netted the first goal, and less than a minute later, Samantha McMahon followed with another to give the Shorewomen a 2-0 lead. St. Mary’s struggled to generate offense early, managing just one shot in the first quarter. Senior captain Charlotte Horn had a chance at the 3:12 mark, but Washington College goalkeeper Charlotte Schurman made the stop.
St. Mary’s cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second period, thanks to a deflection by junior forward Brenna Ziegler off a diagonal pass from sophomore forward Elena Pasko at the 18:08 mark. However, Washington College regained its two-goal lead just before halftime when MaryCate Anson scored from 10 yards out, beating St. Mary’s goalkeeper Caroline McDonald to the lower left corner of the net.
The third quarter saw St. Mary’s fight back, with Fiona Kortyna flicking in a pass from Ziegler at 39:14 to bring the Seahawks back within one. The Seahawks had a chance to tie the game three minutes later, but Schurman came up big once again to preserve Washington College’s 3-2 lead.
The Shorewomen continued to apply pressure throughout the second half, particularly in the third quarter when they fired six shots in a four-minute span. First-year goalkeeper Sophia Kent made four saves during that sequence, with Horn stepping up for two crucial defensive saves as well.
In the final quarter, Washington College controlled the tempo, taking the only two shots of the period, but Kent remained solid in goal, keeping the Seahawks within striking distance. Despite their best efforts, St. Mary’s couldn’t find the equalizer.
Inside the Box Score
Washington College dominated possession, finishing with a 19-5 shot advantage, including 15 shots on target. They also held a 13-3 edge in penalty corners.
For St. Mary’s, Ziegler led the Seahawks with a goal and an assist, while Kortyna recorded her first career goal. McDonald played the first half in goal, making four saves, while Kent made a season-best six stops in the second half. Horn was also pivotal on defense, registering two defensive saves.
Anson paced the Shorewomen offense, leading the team with four shots and a goal. Schurman finished the game with three saves, helping Washington College secure their second consecutive victory and snap a four-game losing streak against St. Mary’s.
What’s Next for St. Mary’s College
The Seahawks will return to action on Wednesday, September 25, as they travel to Virginia Wesleyan (5-1) for a 5 p.m. matchup at Birdsong Field in Virginia Beach. Following that, St. Mary’s will face a tough test at home on Saturday, September 28, as they take on No. 2-ranked Salisbury University (6-1) at JLR Stadium at 1 p.m.
