St. Mary’s City, Md. — Zach Blaum, a first-year midfielder from Richmond, Va., was named the United East Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday, October 21. This accolade marks Blaum’s first career weekly award and the first for the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Seahawks in the 2024 season.
Blaum’s recognition comes after a standout week that saw the Seahawks secure two important victories, extending their winning streak and boosting their standing within the conference. St. Mary’s College finished the week with a 6-3 victory over Notre Dame of Maryland University on October 16 and a hard-fought 1-0 win on the road against Penn State Harrisburg on October 19.
In the game against Notre Dame (Md.), Blaum contributed an assist to help his team cruise to a high-scoring victory. However, his most pivotal moment came in the October 19 match against Penn State Harrisburg, a regionally-ranked conference opponent. With just minutes remaining in the game, Blaum delivered the match-winning goal at the 86:56 mark, securing a critical 1-0 victory for the Seahawks.
Blaum’s game-winner against Penn State Harrisburg not only showcased his offensive capabilities but also helped St. Mary’s maintain their perfect 6-0-0 record within the United East Conference. The Seahawks currently hold a 7-6-2 overall record heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Looking ahead, the Seahawks will return to the pitch on Tuesday, October 22, when they host Rosemont College in a United East Conference matchup. Rosemont enters the game with a 6-6-3 overall record and a 3-3-0 record in the conference. The match will take place at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium at 7:30 p.m. as St. Mary’s looks to maintain its dominance and extend its unbeaten conference run.
The weekly award is one of several handed out by the United East Conference throughout the season. Previous recipients of the Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honor include athletes from Penn State Harrisburg, Cairn, Wilson, Saint Elizabeth, and Penn State Abington.
The 2024 list of United East Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Players of the Week is as follows:
- Sept. 2: Tai Bhalla, Penn State Harrisburg, So. F
- Sept. 9: Jesse Brittain, Cairn, Sr. F
- Sept. 16: Kobe Harris, Penn State Harrisburg, Sr. F
- Sept. 23: Brian Mulholland, Wilson, Jr. F/M
- Sept. 30: Sebastian Londono, Saint Elizabeth, So. F
- Oct. 7: Jesse Brittain, Cairn, Sr. F
- Oct. 14: Eljo Agolli, Penn State Abington, Sr. M
- Oct. 21: Zach Blaum, St. Mary’s College, Fy. M
As the Seahawks push through the final stages of the regular season, they hope Blaum’s offensive prowess will continue to be a key factor in their success. With an eye on both conference glory and postseason opportunities, Blaum and the St. Mary’s College men’s soccer team are aiming to keep their winning momentum alive.
