ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — Senior attackman Aiden Doyle delivered a career-best performance, scoring eight goals to propel the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse team (5-3) to a commanding 17-7 non-conference victory over Vassar College (4-2) on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The win, marking the Seahawks’ second consecutive triumph, showcased their offensive firepower and defensive resilience at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City.
How It Happened
The game started competitively, with the first quarter ending in a 4-4 tie. St. Mary’s struck first with two goals, but Vassar responded to knot the score at 2-2 by the 6:33 mark. The Brewers then took a 4-3 lead with a 2-1 run, only for Doyle to equalize at 4-4 with his first goal at the 32-second mark. The Seahawks dominated the second quarter, shutting out Vassar 4-0 while forcing nine turnovers. Doyle added two more goals, and brothers Cullen and Gavin McKay each contributed an assist, giving St. Mary’s an 8-4 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw St. Mary’s pull away with a six-goal outburst. Doyle, senior attackman Keegan Preis, and sophomore Declan Horton each scored twice, while Preis and senior captain Nate Hochrein dished out two assists apiece, extending the lead to 14-4. In the final quarter, St. Mary’s secured a 3-1 edge, with Doyle netting the first two goals and Preis completing his hat trick, sealing the 17-7 victory.
Inside the Box Score
St. Mary’s outshot Vassar 45-36 and dominated ground balls 38-25, led by junior Matteo Ciccarello’s game-high six loose balls. The Seahawks controlled face-offs, winning 18-of-28, with Ciccarello securing 16-of-22. Vassar converted 1-of-2 extra-man opportunities and scored a man-down goal to close the game, while St. Mary’s went 1-for-5 on power plays.
St. Mary’s Game Notes
Doyle’s eight goals and eight points marked a career high, paired with two caused turnovers. Preis notched season-bests of seven points, three goals, four assists, and four ground balls. Horton added three goals, two ground balls, and an assist, while Hochrein contributed a goal and three assists. Defensively, junior Cooper Dunwoody and Joe Szymanski each scooped up four ground balls and caused a turnover, with Dunwoody hitting a career-best four ground balls for the second straight game. Senior goalkeeper Cullen McKay recorded a season-high 13 saves, four ground balls, and a caused turnover.
Vassar Game Notes
Gavin Arcuri led the Brewers with three goals, two assists, four ground balls, and a caused turnover. Goalkeeper Drew Quinn made 10 saves but couldn’t halt Vassar’s two-game win streak from snapping.
Local Impact
The win resonates deeply in St. Mary’s County, where the Seahawks are a point of pride for the community of 113,000. JLR Stadium, on the campus of St. Mary’s College (1,600 students), is a hub for local sports, and this victory—part of a 5-3 season—builds momentum ahead of Military Appreciation Day and the Gold Rush Game against Penn College (5-2) on March 22 at 1:00 p.m.
Doyle, hailing from Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, exemplifies local talent, while players like Dunwoody (Davidsonville, Anne Arundel) and Szymanski (Easton, nearby Talbot County) highlight the region’s contributions. The team’s 65% face-off win rate and 13 saves from McKay underscore a balanced attack, though their 20% extra-man conversion rate suggests room for improvement in conference play.
