ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse sophomores Declan Horton and Will Hock were named United East Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on April 14, 2025. The conference office announced the awards following a 1-1 week for the Seahawks, marking Horton’s second selection this season and Hock’s first career defensive honor.
Horton, a 5-11 attackman/midfielder from University Park, Maryland, led the offense in a 24-1 rout of Cairn University on April 8, dishing out a season-high three assists. He followed with a standout performance against No. 17 Dickinson College on April 12, scoring three goals and adding two assists for a season-best five points, despite a 14-11 loss. His second point against Dickinson pushed him past 100 career points, a milestone for the DeMatha Catholic graduate. Horton also collected two ground balls in the game. He ranks fifth in the conference with 27 goals, sixth with 42 points, and sixth with 15 assists, per United East statistics.
Hock, a 6-0 defensive midfielder from Arlington, Virginia, anchored the defense. Against Cairn, he scooped up three ground balls and caused a turnover, contributing to a game where 15 Seahawks scored, showcasing team depth. Facing Dickinson’s potent offense, Hock grabbed five ground balls, helping limit the Red Devils despite their national ranking. The Yorktown High School alum is tied for 14th in the conference with 29 ground balls.
The Seahawks (7-5, 2-0 UEC) dominated Cairn, outshooting the Highlanders 80-4, but fell short against Dickinson, a top-20 NCAA Division III team, per the USILA poll. St. Mary’s defense, bolstered by Hock, forced 39 turnovers against Cairn, while Horton’s versatility kept the offense competitive against Dickinson’s experienced squad.
“We’ve seen great individual efforts from Declan and Will, but it’s the team’s resilience that stands out,” said head coach Jason Childs, per a team statement. The Seahawks’ 7-5 record reflects a rebound from a tough non-conference slate, with their 2-0 United East mark keeping them atop the conference standings alongside Penn College.
St. Mary’s faces a stern test next, traveling to face No. 2 Salisbury University (14-0) on April 15 at 7 p.m. in a non-conference matchup. Salisbury, a perennial Division III powerhouse, averages 18.2 goals per game.
The awards add to St. Mary’s strong 2025 honors, with Horton previously recognized on February 17 and teammates Aiden Doyle (March 17) and Keegan Preis (March 24) also earning offensive nods. Defensive honors for the Seahawks include Bret Hussey (February 17), Jeremy Heath (February 24, March 24), and Joe Szymanski (March 10).
