CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s soccer team secured a crucial victory on Saturday, September 28, defeating Wilson College 2-1 in the United East Conference opener. The Seahawks (2-5-2, 1-0-0 UEC) found the back of the net twice, marking their first multi-goal game since August 30, and snapped their winless streak.
Aggressive Start Pays Off for Seahawks
St. Mary’s began the game with a strong offensive push, taking five shots within the first 15 minutes. Their efforts were rewarded in the 18th minute when first-year midfielder Zach Blaum (Richmond, Va./Atlee) set up junior midfielder Jack Nelson (Ellicott City, Md./River Hill) with a well-placed cross. Nelson netted his second goal of the season, giving the Seahawks an early 1-0 lead at the 17:13 mark.
Wilson College (4-6, 0-1 UEC) responded ten minutes later. Liam Yeatman assisted Jace Williams, who scored to tie the game at 1-1 at 27:36. The Phoenix’s equalizer kept the pressure on St. Mary’s for the remainder of the first half.
Sophomore midfielder Braden Kindred (Olney, Md./Sherwood) tried to restore St. Mary’s lead with two attempts on goal before the break, but both were denied by Wilson goalkeeper Logan Neves.
Seahawks Regain the Lead Early in Second Half
St. Mary’s wasted little time in the second half, regaining the lead less than four minutes after the restart. Senior forward Alex Ochman (Rockville, Md./Wootton) sent a free kick into the penalty box, and sophomore midfielder Tyler Foti (Annandale, Va./Annandale) headed it in for his first career goal as a Seahawk at 48:13. This 2-1 advantage proved decisive as St. Mary’s continued to press offensively throughout the second half.
While the Seahawks kept their momentum, firing off eight more shots with five on target, the Phoenix were not out of the match. Wilson’s offense worked to find a second equalizer, placing five of their seven shots on target, but St. Mary’s sophomore goalkeeper Jordon Eckman (Fallston, Md./Loyola Blakefield) made crucial saves to keep the lead intact. Eckman recorded six saves in total, tying his second-best performance of the season.
Dominance in Key Statistics
St. Mary’s dominated several key statistical categories. They outshot Wilson 21-11, including a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Seahawks also controlled corner kicks with a 13-1 margin, applying consistent pressure on the Phoenix defense.
Senior forward Abdoul Anounkou (Togo/Springbrook [Md.]) led the Seahawks in shot attempts with five. Meanwhile, Wilson’s Neves finished the game with eight saves, as the Phoenix saw their three-game win streak snapped.
What’s Next for St. Mary’s
The victory marked the Seahawks’ first win since their season opener on August 30, giving them momentum heading into a tough stretch of games. St. Mary’s will face No. 1 ranked Mary Washington (9-0-1) in Fredericksburg, Va., on October 2 at 4 p.m. The Seahawks will then return home to host Lancaster Bible (3-4-1, 1-0-0 UEC) on October 5 at 4:30 p.m. in JLR Stadium.
