ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team took their third swing at a nationally ranked foe on March 19, 2025, and for a fleeting moment, they had No. 10 York College of Pennsylvania on the ropes. Up 5-4 midway through the second quarter, the Seahawks (2-5) couldn’t hold the line as the Spartans (4-2) roared back, outscoring them 12-5 down the stretch to snag a 16-10 non-conference victory on St. Mary’s home turf. It was a tale of early promise undone by a relentless York surge.
The game ignited with St. Mary’s striking fast. Senior captain Colin Horton, hailing from University Park, sparked a 4-1 run, netting two goals to stake a three-goal edge with 3:54 left in the first. York answered, knotting it at 4-4 by halftime’s 8:43 mark, fueled by Logan Ward’s two assists. Thirty seconds later, senior captain Madison Laine of Kingsville fired a woman-up goal—St. Mary’s last lead at 5-4. The Spartans flipped the script, closing the half 3-1 for a 7-6 edge, then erupted with four straight in the third to pull ahead 11-6. A 5-4 finish over the final 21 minutes sealed St. Mary’s fate.
Stats tell the story: York outshot the Seahawks 34-25 and eked out a +2 turnover margin (19-21). St. Mary’s owned draw controls 17-12, thanks to sophomore Claire Boudreau’s game-high seven, but ground balls split even at 20. York cashed in 2-of-5 free position shots, a small but telling edge. Horton led St. Mary’s with four goals, while senior captain Hailey Betch of Severna Park tallied five points—two goals, three assists—plus two draw controls. Laine added three goals and an assist, scooping two ground balls. Junior defender Carsyn Smith of Crownsville shone with a career-best five caused turnovers, two draw controls, and two ground balls. In net, junior Isabel Gautreaux of Bel Air grabbed a season-high six ground balls and made five saves.
York’s attack was relentless. Zoe Kluegel topped all scorers with five goals and seven points, backed by Gianna Huet’s three goals and two assists. Keeper Bella Garabo turned away eight shots in nearly 50 minutes, anchoring the Spartans’ rally. St. Mary’s couldn’t match the firepower, dropping to 2-5 against a York squad now 4-2 and riding momentum from their third straight win, per NCAA stats.
Next up, the Seahawks face another ranked test: No. 25 Messiah (5-3) on March 23 in Grantham, Pa., at 2 p.m. Messiah’s coming off a 14-11 win over No. 17 Haverford, per their site, making it a steep climb for St. Mary’s. With three Top 25 foes already under their belt—losses to No. 7 Salisbury and No. 14 Christopher Newport included—this young season’s proving a gauntlet. Betch, Horton, and crew will need every draw and ground ball to turn the tide.
