ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team earned a clean sweep of the United East Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, as announced by the league office on Monday, April 7, 2025. This marks the third time this season the Seahawks have claimed both honors in the same week, showcasing their dominance in the conference.
Senior captain Colin Horton, a midfielder from University Park, Maryland, secured the Offensive Player of the Week award for the first time this season and the fifth time in her career. Junior defender Carsyn Smith from Crownsville, Maryland, earned her second Defensive Player of the Week honor of 2025. The awards come on the heels of a split week for St. Mary’s, which included a commanding 26-0 shutout over Notre Dame of Maryland University on April 1 and an 18-11 loss to No. 7 Salisbury University on April 5.
Horton’s standout performances fueled her latest accolade. Against Notre Dame (Md.), she scored a game-high four goals, added an assist, and secured four draw controls. In the matchup with Salisbury, she led the Seahawks with five points, tallying four goals and an assist, while posting a season-high five draw controls and a career-best two caused turnovers. The 5-foot-9 midfielder currently leads the United East Conference with 41 goals, ties for second with 45 points, and ranks sixth with 34 draw controls, according to conference statistics.
Smith anchored the Seahawks’ defense with equally impressive play. In the shutout victory over Notre Dame (Md.), she recorded career highs of six draw controls and five ground balls. Facing Salisbury, she contributed two caused turnovers, two draw controls, and one ground ball. The 5-foot-5 junior ranks second in the conference with 16 caused turnovers and ties for third with 28 ground balls, per United East standings.
St. Mary’s College, now 4-7 overall and 1-0 in conference play, is set to return to action on Tuesday, April 8, hosting Wilson College (1-9, 0-0 UEC) at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. The 5:30 p.m. contest will double as the team’s Gold Rush and Morgan’s Message Game, blending competition with community awareness initiatives.
This season, the United East Conference has recognized several St. Mary’s players for their weekly performances. Horton’s offensive award on April 7 follows earlier honors for senior attacker Hailey Betch (Feb. 24 and March 10). Smith’s defensive recognition adds to her March 24 nod, while teammates Claire Boudreau (March 3 and March 10) and Horton (Feb. 24, as a defender) have also been celebrated. Other conference standouts include Bryn Athyn’s Shea Gormley and Kira Bradley, as well as Cedar Crest’s Kylah Demarest, Maddie Graham, and Ellie Terranova, per the league’s weekly award archives.
The Seahawks’ recent shutout of Notre Dame (Md.) highlights their defensive prowess, with Smith’s contributions proving pivotal. Meanwhile, the loss to Salisbury, a perennial powerhouse ranked seventh nationally by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), underscores the competitive challenges St. Mary’s faces outside conference play. Salisbury’s program has a storied history, including multiple NCAA Division III titles, according to the university’s athletics website.
As St. Mary’s prepares for Wilson College, Horton and Smith’s leadership will be key. The United East Conference season is heating up, and the Seahawks aim to build on their early 1-0 league record.
