St. Mary’s City, Md. – In a rematch of last season’s United East Conference Championship, St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s soccer once again triumphed over Rosemont College on Tuesday night, October 22. The Seahawks, led by standout performances from forwards Lucas Evans and Alex Ochman, clinched a 3-0 win, solidifying their position at the top of the league standings.
The victory moved the Seahawks to 8-6-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in conference play, creating a two-way tie for first place in the United East standings. Rosemont College, the team St. Mary’s defeated in last year’s dramatic championship match, fell to 6-7-3 overall and 3-4 in the league.
Last year’s championship clash between these teams ended in a 2-2 draw before St. Mary’s claimed victory with a 5-4 advantage in penalty kicks. However, the 2024 rematch saw no such drama, as the Seahawks dominated from the start.
First Half: Seahawks Control the Game Early
St. Mary’s wasted no time asserting their dominance. Within the first 15 minutes, the Seahawks netted two goals, establishing a commanding lead. Lucas Evans was the first to break the deadlock at 12:43, after receiving a long pass from teammate Alex Ochman. Evans controlled the ball, made a few quick dribbles, and slotted it past Rosemont’s goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
Just over a minute later, St. Mary’s doubled their advantage. Sophomore midfielder Christian Johnson found the back of the net after a well-executed sequence from junior midfielder Jack Nelson and Ochman. Ochman delivered the final pass, and Johnson, running into the penalty box, calmly finished at 14:04 to bring the score to 2-0.
Despite Rosemont’s attempts to mount an offensive, the Seahawks’ defense remained solid throughout the half. Sophomore goalkeeper Jordon Eckman was tested just once in the first 45 minutes, turning away a shot in the 15th minute. Rosemont’s other chance in the half sailed wide, leaving the visitors scoreless heading into the break.
Second Half: St. Mary’s Adds an Insurance Goal
St. Mary’s continued to apply pressure early in the second half, and their efforts paid off just moments after the restart. Evans notched his second goal of the night at 46:27, finishing off a corner kick from Ochman to extend the Seahawks’ lead to 3-0.
Rosemont responded by increasing their offensive output, outshooting St. Mary’s 13-7 in the second half. However, Eckman remained a formidable presence in goal, recording five saves in the final 45 minutes. Rosemont created a late surge of opportunities in the last five minutes, but Eckman denied two shots, while the Seahawk defense cleared another off the line to preserve the shutout.
Statistical Breakdown: Seahawks Dominate Corners
The final stats reflected St. Mary’s strong performance, with the Seahawks finishing the game with a 20-15 edge in shots, including an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal. St. Mary’s also held a significant advantage in corner kicks, doubling Rosemont 10-5 in that category.
Key Players for St. Mary’s
- Lucas Evans: The forward registered his second multi-goal game of the season, scoring twice and bringing his season tally to six goals.
- Alex Ochman: Ochman delivered a standout performance, matching his career-high with three assists, marking the second time this season he has achieved that feat.
- Jordon Eckman: Eckman’s six saves helped him secure his second solo shutout of the season, including several crucial stops late in the game.
Key Players for Rosemont
- Timothy Kane: Kane led the Ravens’ offensive effort with four shots, two of which were on target.
- Gunner Hoffman: The Rosemont goalkeeper made five saves in the losing effort.
Looking Ahead: Next Challenge for St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s College will next face Saint Elizabeth University (9-5, 6-1 UEC) in a high-stakes matchup on Thursday, October 26. The game is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
