St. MARY’S CITY, Md. — First-year midfielder Zach Blaum delivered in dramatic fashion on Saturday, scoring twice, including a last-minute game-winner, to lead the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Saint Elizabeth University. The Seahawks’ Senior Day triumph sealed their place as United East Conference regular-season champions, marking a historic undefeated conference record.
With the win, St. Mary’s College (9-6-2, 8-0-0 UEC) claims the No. 1 seed in the United East Championship Tournament. The Seahawks will enjoy a first-round bye and host the quarterfinals at JLR Stadium on November 2, where they will face the winner of the Penn State Brandywine vs. Notre Dame of Maryland University match.
Game Overview
The Seahawks entered their final regular-season game with a chance to lock down a perfect conference record and did not disappoint. St. Mary’s City fans were treated to a hard-fought battle as the Seahawks rallied from a second-half deficit, showcasing their resilience and Blaum’s precision on both of his goals.
In a ceremony preceding the match, St. Mary’s honored its four graduating seniors for their contributions to the program: forwards Abdoul Anounkou and Alex Ochman, team captain Kolton Blackistone, and defender Ryan Barkdoll.
How the Game Unfolded
The match opened scoreless, with St. Mary’s doubling up Saint Elizabeth in shots, holding an 8-4 advantage. Despite outshooting their opponents, the Seahawks could only muster two shots on goal, both comfortably saved by Saint Elizabeth’s goalkeeper, Andrew Gonzalez.
Saint Elizabeth University (9-6, 6-2 UEC) took the first lead of the day in the 53rd minute when Franco Arteaga sent a slow roller past St. Mary’s goalie Zack Reed, marking the Eagles’ only score of the game. The Seahawks fought back to equalize as time dwindled, thanks to an aggressive offensive showing led by Blaum and Ochman.
Ochman nearly leveled the score in the 76th minute with a penalty kick, but Gonzalez made a crucial diving save. The Seahawks continued pressing, and just two minutes later, Blaum capitalized on a rebound off a shot from junior midfielder Ned Schauermann, finally breaking through to tie the game at 1-1.
In the game’s final minute, Ochman sent a perfectly placed corner kick into the box, where Blaum rose to meet it with a header, scoring the decisive goal with just 64 seconds remaining on the clock.
Statistical Highlights
The Seahawks showcased their offensive depth, dominating the Eagles with 22 shots (11 on target) compared to Saint Elizabeth’s 11 shots (2 on target). They also held a significant edge in corner kicks with a 9-2 advantage. The physicality of the contest was evident, with officials issuing 12 yellow cards and two red cards throughout the game.
For St. Mary’s, Blaum’s two goals marked the first multi-goal performance of his college career, while Ochman led the team with five shots, two of which were on target. Reed, the Seahawks’ sophomore goalie, recorded a single save, improving his season record to 3-4.
Looking Ahead
As the top seed, the Seahawks look forward to hosting their quarterfinal match on November 2. St. Mary’s will play the winner of the first-round matchup between Penn State Brandywine and Notre Dame of Maryland University. A win would advance them to the conference semifinals as they aim to defend their United East title.
With an undefeated conference record for the first time in school history, St. Mary’s College of Maryland is set to make a formidable run in the postseason, driven by a mix of emerging talent and experienced seniors.
