St. Mary’s City, MD- St. Mary’s College of Maryland clinched the United East Men’s Soccer Championship on Saturday afternoon, defeating Penn State Abington 2-0 on home ground. With this victory, the Seahawks earned an automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship, where they will discover their next opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
The highly anticipated matchup saw St. Mary’s (Md.), the top-seeded team, take control of the game early, showcasing their strong offensive and defensive capabilities. The first breakthrough came in the 38th minute when senior midfielder Alex Ochman capitalized on an opportunity to score, putting the Seahawks ahead 1-0. This goal marked Ochman’s fourth of the season and energized the home crowd as the teams headed into halftime.
The second half intensified as both teams battled for control. Penn State Abington, determined to equalize, ramped up their efforts but struggled to break through St. Mary’s defensive line. The game took a dramatic turn in the 73rd minute when St. Mary’s was awarded a penalty kick. Penn State Abington’s goalkeeper, Brendan Werner, made a crucial diving save to the right, deflecting the shot with his outstretched left hand and keeping the Nittany Lions within one goal.
Despite Abington’s defensive resilience, St. Mary’s continued to press. Their persistence paid off in the 82nd minute when another penalty kick was awarded. This time, senior forward Abdoul Anounkou stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, securing the Seahawks’ 2-0 lead and effectively sealing the championship victory.
St. Mary’s goalkeeper Zack Reed had a relatively quiet day, making just one save, while Abington’s Werner was kept busy with seven saves throughout the match. The Seahawks registered 15 total shots, nine of which were on target, compared to Penn State Abington’s 10 shots, only one of which tested Reed.
The game saw multiple cautions issued to Penn State Abington players, reflecting the physical nature of the match. Frank Monaco (44:37), Christian Cardenas (46:49), Sean Horvay (72:13), Eljo Agolli (75:17), Nico Anagnostopoulos (89:46), and goalkeeper Brendan Werner (90:00) were all shown yellow cards. Agolli also received a second caution at full time.
Ochman’s performance, highlighted by four shots with three on goal and the game-winning strike, earned him the United East Men’s Soccer Tournament MVP honors. “It’s an incredible feeling to contribute to such an important win for our team,” Ochman said post-match.
With this victory, St. Mary’s College (Md.) will advance to the NCAA Championship, continuing their season with momentum and confidence.
Team Statistics Overview:
- Shots: St. Mary’s (Md.) 15 (9 on goal), Penn State Abington 10 (1 on goal)
- Saves: Zack Reed (SMC) 1, Brendan Werner (PSA) 7
- Corner Kicks: Both teams registered five each
- Offsides: St. Mary’s (Md.) 0, Penn State Abington 1
Cautions and Ejections:
- Penn State Abington: Frank Monaco (44:37), Christian Cardenas (46:49), Sean Horvay (72:13), Eljo Agolli (75:17, 90:00), Nico Anagnostopoulos (89:46), Brendan Werner (90:00)
St. Mary’s College (Md.) now looks ahead to the NCAA Championship, where they hope to build on their strong season and make a significant impact on the national stage.
