St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team started the 2025 season with a 4-1 victory over Sewanee: The University of the South on August 30 in St. Mary’s City, marking the first career coaching win for interim head coach Allyson Osborne. Senior forward Briana Allen contributed two goals and one assist, while senior forward Brenna Ziegler scored one goal and provided one assist, breaking the program’s career assists record with her 24th, surpassing the previous mark of 23 set by Lauriann Parker in 2013.
The Seahawks dominated possession throughout the non-conference matchup at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, outshooting the Tigers 26-3, including a 16-2 edge in shots on goal. St. Mary’s also earned eight penalty corners to Sewanee’s three. Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Kent made one save to secure the win, improving her record to 1-0 this season.
Ziegler opened the scoring at 5:27 in the first quarter, deflecting Allen’s pass past Sewanee goalkeeper Miriam Hussaini for a 1-0 lead. Allen extended the advantage to 2-0 at 21:47 in the second quarter, pushing in a through pass from first-year midfielder Julie Presgraves after Presgraves intercepted a Tigers’ defensive clear. In the third quarter, Allen scored her second goal at 33:16, deflecting Ziegler’s pass, which gave Ziegler the record-breaking assist. Senior midfielder Josie Shermeyer added the final Seahawks goal at 44:19 in the fourth quarter, dribbling past two defenders before reverse sweeping the ball into the net for a 4-0 lead.
Sewanee avoided a shutout with 35 seconds remaining when Catherine Crane converted a cross from Shepard Ramsey. Hussaini made 11 saves for the Tigers, and Patty Ariwine recorded a defensive save.
Allen’s performance set career highs with two goals and five points, while Ziegler’s goal and assist brought her season totals to one each in both categories. The win improved St. Mary’s to 1-0, while Sewanee fell to 0-1 in its season opener.
Ziegler, a Newark, Delaware, native from Newark Charter School, entered the season with impressive credentials from prior years, including leading the team in points and goals in 2023 with 41 points and 16 goals, ranking third in the Atlantic East Conference. Her record-breaking assist came in a fitting moment during the home opener, adding to her legacy in the program.
Parker, the previous record holder, finished her career with single-season records for goals at 18 in 2010, assists at 10 in 2012, and points at 40 in 2010. She also tied for first in program history with 12 game-winning goals. Parker is set for induction into the St. Mary’s College Athletics Hall of Fame on October 17, 2025, as part of the class that includes other notable alumni such as Khalid Balogun from men’s basketball and Tori Poffenberger from women’s soccer.
Osborne, in her first season as interim head coach, brings experience from previous roles as an assistant at Allegheny College and Oberlin College. She joined St. Mary’s as assistant coach and assistant director of athletic communications, stepping into the head role for 2025. The Seahawks had been led by Jessica Lanham in her 10th season as of the schedule announcement in July 2025, but Osborne took over interim duties.
The Seahawks unveiled their 2025 schedule in July, featuring 16 games with eight at home, including matchups against NCAA tournament teams from previous seasons. St. Mary’s was voted No. 1 in the 2025 United East Conference preseason poll, positioning the team to defend its 2024 championship title, which marked the program’s first-ever conference crown after three consecutive title game appearances. The team has a history of strong defensive play and opportunistic scoring, traits that carried over from its time in the Atlantic East Conference before joining the United East.
In 2024, the Seahawks earned national recognition with several players receiving all-region honors from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, and the team collected academic accolades. Sixteen players landed on the national academic squad in February 2024, highlighting the program’s emphasis on student-athlete success.
Sewanee, competing in the Collegiate Field Hockey Conference, announced its 2025 schedule in June, with six home games and five conference matchups under head coach Haley Overstreet. The Tigers’ roster includes forwards like Alex Schoener and midfielders such as Grace Torrey, but they struggled with possession in the opener.
The victory sets a positive tone for St. Mary’s as it prepares for upcoming home games. The Seahawks host Virginia Wesleyan, which started 0-1, on September 3 at 5 p.m., followed by Bridgewater (Virginia), also 0-1, on September 6 at 1 p.m., both at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium.
Field hockey at St. Mary’s has seen consistent growth, with the team joining the Atlantic East as an affiliate in 2020 and earning prestigious awards. In 2023, players earned all-region honors, and the team triumphed with an 8-0 victory over Neumann University in October that year. Such performances build on the program’s foundation, dating back to competitive seasons in the early 2010s when players like Parker set benchmarks.
For Southern Maryland, these athletic achievements provide opportunities for local youth to engage with college-level sports, often through clinics and community events. The Seahawks’ success in 2024, including dominating United East awards in November, underscores the program’s role in elevating regional athletics.
