ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – Sophomore forward Elena Pasko (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) delivered a standout performance Thursday night, leading the St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team to their third consecutive win. The Seahawks (6-9) cruised to a 7-0 non-conference shutout over Meredith College (3-8) with Pasko contributing a goal and a career-best three assists.
Before the game, St. Mary’s College honored their four seniors — defenders Bryce Carlin (Baltimore, Md./Friends) and Charlotte Horn (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh), goalkeeper Kaley Christman (Jefferson, Md./Brunswick), and student assistant Brigid Mulholland (Silver Spring, Md.) — for their commitment and leadership throughout their time with the program.
How It Unfolded
The Seahawks wasted no time establishing control, with Pasko setting up two quick goals in the first five minutes. Junior forwards Brenna Ziegler (Newark, Del./Newark Charter) and Emma Watkins (Frederick, Md./Linganore) each found the back of the net off assists from Pasko, giving the Seahawks an early 2-0 lead by the 5:32 mark.
Watkins struck again before the end of the first quarter, pushing the lead to 3-0 at 12:23 with a well-executed one-timer from junior forward Ally Rice (New Market, Md./Oakdale). The Seahawks continued to dominate possession and control the pace of the game.
In the second period, Pasko scored her first-ever goal as a Seahawk, pouncing on a rebound and firing it past the Meredith defense to make it 4-0. Midway through the second quarter, the Avenging Angels managed their only two shots of the game, but both attempts were stopped, keeping the scoreboard firmly in St. Mary’s favor heading into halftime.
The second half saw much of the same dominance. Ziegler added her second goal of the game at 36:53, converting another Pasko pass to extend the lead to 5-0. The Seahawks continued to pressure Meredith throughout, with junior midfielder Sofia Lopez (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) and Rice each scoring late in the fourth quarter at 52:22 and 57:02, respectively, to cap off the 7-0 victory.
Key Stats
St. Mary’s College was relentless on offense, outshooting Meredith 32-2, including 24 shots on goal. The Seahawks also maintained a 13-4 advantage in penalty corners, further showcasing their control of the game.
This marks the Seahawks’ third straight shutout victory and fifth of the season, underscoring their defensive improvements in recent games.
Watkins and Ziegler led the scoring with two goals each, while Rice tallied her first career points, finishing with a goal and an assist. First-year forward Olivia Schwendeman (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) also recorded her first career assist on the final goal.
In Goal
St. Mary’s goalkeepers Sophia Kent (Chesterville, Md./Gunston) and Caroline McDonald (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) each made one save in the first half, while Christman faced no shots during her 30 minutes of action.
For Meredith, goalkeeper Shae-Lynn Henderson had a busy night, making 17 saves for the Avenging Angels, despite the lopsided scoreline.
Up Next
St. Mary’s College returns to action on October 19, when they face Keystone College (6-6, 2-1 UEC) at 3 p.m. in St. Mary’s City. The game will be part of the college’s annual Hawktoberfest, adding an extra layer of excitement for the fans.
