St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s field hockey team secured a place in the United East Conference championship game after a decisive 2-0 semifinal victory over Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, Nov. 2. The top-seeded Seahawks, now 9-10 on the season, will face third-seeded Keystone College in the title match on Nov. 9 at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City.
The semifinal win was powered by goals from juniors Brenna Ziegler of Newark, Delaware, and Josie Shermeyer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ziegler’s goal marked a personal milestone, bringing her career points to 100 and making her only the second player in program history to reach the century mark, following Lauriann Parker’s record of 111 points.
Seahawks’ Offensive Push Pays Off Early
St. Mary’s opened strong, pressuring Penn State Harrisburg’s defense with 11 shots in the first quarter alone. Lions goalkeeper Macenzie Mulholland delivered a resilient performance, stopping six attempts to maintain a scoreless game at the end of the first quarter. However, three minutes into the second period, Ziegler broke through, maneuvering past the defense to score an unassisted goal from the right side of the circle, slotting the ball into the lower left corner.
The Seahawks continued to dominate on offense throughout the first half, forcing Mulholland to make a series of stops. Despite their persistence, St. Mary’s went into halftime leading 1-0.
Quick Start to the Second Half
The Seahawks doubled their lead almost immediately after halftime. Just 40 seconds into the third quarter, forward Briana Allen, a junior from Bowie, Maryland, set up Shermeyer with a precise pass at the edge of the circle. Shermeyer capitalized on the opportunity, firing a shot into the near post for her third goal of the season, putting the Seahawks up 2-0.
On defense, St. Mary’s proved impenetrable, allowing Penn State Harrisburg only two shots throughout the game. The Lions’ first attempt came in the 45th minute when Bailey Rucker forced Seahawk goalkeeper Sophia Kent to make her only save of the day.
By the Numbers
St. Mary’s recorded a significant 27-2 shot advantage, including an 18-1 edge in shots on goal, and earned a 10-2 lead in penalty corners. Ziegler’s five shots on target led both teams, highlighting her role as an offensive force for the Seahawks this season. Kent’s single save secured her fourth solo shutout of the season, solidifying St. Mary’s defensive efforts.
Mulholland tallied 16 saves for Penn State Harrisburg, a notable performance despite the Lions’ offensive struggles.
Championship Game Preview
St. Mary’s will meet Keystone College (9-7) in the United East Conference championship. Keystone advanced to the title game with a 5-3 victory over second-seeded Wilson College. The Seahawks previously defeated Keystone 3-0 in a regular-season matchup on Oct. 19, where Ziegler, Jena Vanskiver, and Emma Watkins each scored.
The championship game is set for Nov. 9 at JLR Stadium, with game time still to be determined.
