For the fourth consecutive week, St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s women’s soccer team has held the No. 6 position in the Region IV rankings released by the United Soccer Coaches on Tuesday, October 29. The Seahawks’ consistent ranking underlines their strong season and formidable record as they prepare to compete in the 2024 United East Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament as the No. 3 seed.
Joining St. Mary’s in the Region IV rankings is Penn State Harrisburg, holding steady at No. 8, making the United East Conference the only conference with two institutions represented in this week’s poll. The Seahawks, boasting a 15-1-3 overall record, enter the tournament riding high on a 12-game unbeaten streak. This run includes a remarkable 10-0-2 stretch, capped by a flawless 7-0-1 conference record, marking only the second time in the program’s history that they have finished conference play without a defeat.
The Seahawks are set to face sixth-seeded Lancaster Bible College (7-5-4) in the quarterfinals, scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m. at St. Mary’s own Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. Lancaster Bible advanced to the quarterfinals after a commanding 5-0 victory over Rosemont College in Tuesday night’s first-round matchup. The Seahawks will look to replicate their success from earlier in the season when they defeated Lancaster Bible 2-0 on October 5. In that match, junior forward Mia McKenzie and first-year player Makayla Marvray each scored, while goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland secured the win with three saves.
Heading into the championship, the Seahawks bring several standout players and notable achievements. Senior goalkeeper Kylie Wells was recognized as the United East Defensive Player of the Week following her stellar performance in St. Mary’s dominant 10-0 victory over Saint Elizabeth University on October 26. Wells not only held a clean sheet in the first half but also contributed to the offense with a goal and an assist in the second half, highlighting her versatility and leadership.
Offensively, McKenzie leads the Seahawks with four game-winning goals, ranking her 25th nationally in Division III. Defensively, Bland has proven invaluable in goal. With a 0.943 save percentage, the first-year goalkeeper ranks fourth in Division III and boasts an impressive goals-against average of 0.25, placing her sixth in the nation. Bland has recorded eight solo shutouts, tying her at 17th in Division III, and holds a record of 10-1-3, underscoring her consistency and reliability throughout the season.
As the Seahawks advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal, their focus remains on leveraging their defensive strength and balanced offense. The matchup against Lancaster Bible will mark an opportunity to extend their unbeaten streak and potentially advance deeper into the championship tournament.
