SALISBURY, Md. – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse team concluded its 2025 season on May 10, falling 17-5 to No. 2 Salisbury University in the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament second round. The Sea Gulls, undefeated at 20-0, outscored the Seahawks (10-8) 8-0 in the second half to secure the victory at home.
The game opened with Salisbury taking an early lead, but St. Mary’s responded swiftly. Sophomore Declan Horton and senior attackman Keegan Preis scored back-to-back goals within 63 seconds, giving the Seahawks a 2-1 advantage with 10:04 remaining in the first quarter. Salisbury countered with a 5-0 run, building a four-goal lead by early in the second quarter. St. Mary’s senior attackman Aiden Doyle and sophomore Gavin McKay narrowed the gap to 6-4 with consecutive goals. Salisbury’s Michael Leahy responded with a natural hat trick in two minutes, pushing the Sea Gulls’ lead to 9-4. Junior attackman Joshua Martel scored St. Mary’s final goal 12 seconds before halftime, making the score 9-5.
The second half belonged to Salisbury, as they shut out St. Mary’s while adding eight goals. The Sea Gulls’ dominance in face-offs (21-of-26) and ground balls (48-32) fueled their game control. Salisbury also held a 51-32 shot advantage and forced a +7 turnover margin, despite St. Mary’s defense causing eight of the Sea Gulls’ nine turnovers.
Five Seahawks contributed goals: Horton, Preis, Doyle, McKay, and Martel. Senior defenseman Joe Murray led the defense with four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior defensive midfielder Quinnten Hatfield and junior defenseman Joe Szymanski each collected four ground balls, while junior defenseman Adam Martin added two caused turnovers and two ground balls. Senior goalkeeper Cullen McKay matched his career-high with 17 saves and secured three ground balls.
For Salisbury, Leahy and Riley Strub each scored four goals, while Blake Malamphy won 20 of 24 face-offs. Goalkeeper Nicholas Ransom made 11 saves and picked up two ground balls. Both teams converted one of two extra-man opportunities.
The loss marked the end of St. Mary’s 2025 campaign, which saw the team finish with a 10-8 record. In advancing in the tournament, Salisbury maintained their perfect record with their second win over St. Mary’s this season. The Seahawks’ defensive efforts, particularly in forcing turnovers, highlighted their resilience, but Salisbury’s control of key statistical categories proved decisive.
St. Mary’s College has competed in the NCAA Division III tournament multiple times, with this season’s second-round appearance reflecting their competitive standing in the United Coast Conference. Salisbury, a perennial powerhouse, continues to assert dominance in the division, leveraging their depth and efficiency in critical game aspects like face-offs and ground ball possession.
