ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team notched its second consecutive victory on September 3, 2025, defeating Virginia Wesleyan University 2-0 in a non-conference matchup at JLR Stadium. Seniors Brenna Ziegler and Sofia Lopez scored the game’s only goals, while sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Kent anchored a stout defense to secure the Seahawks’ first shutout of the season. The win improves St. Mary’s to 2-0, while the Marlins remain winless at 0-3.
The game began with a scoreless first quarter, as both teams traded possession under clear skies in St. Mary’s City. The Seahawks broke through at 17:13 in the second quarter when senior forward Briana Allen poked the ball past the Virginia Wesleyan defense, setting up Ziegler for a deft deflection at the goal line. The goal, Ziegler’s second of the season, gave St. Mary’s a 1-0 lead. Seven minutes later, senior midfielder Josie Shermeyer fired a shot from the left side of the circle, which Lopez tapped in at the far post for her first goal of the season, doubling the lead to 2-0.
Virginia Wesleyan mounted pressure in the third quarter, earning five consecutive penalty corners in the final two minutes, but St. Mary’s defense held firm. Senior captain Jena Vanskiver recorded a defensive save, and Kent stopped three Marlin shots to preserve the shutout. The Seahawks outshot the Marlins 13-8, with a 5-4 edge in shots on goal, and held a slight 9-8 advantage in penalty corners. Virginia Wesleyan’s DJ Holsclaw made two saves, and Samantha Middleton contributed a defensive save, but the Marlins couldn’t find the net, still seeking their first goal of the season.
St. Mary’s College, a Division III program in the United East Conference, now holds an 18-6 all-time record against Virginia Wesleyan, a fellow Old Dominion Athletic Conference opponent. The Seahawks’ disciplined play, with only 51 fouls compared to the Marlins’ 55, showcased their defensive cohesion. Kent’s performance in goal was pivotal, marking her first shutout of the 2025 season and reinforcing St. Mary’s reputation for strong goalkeeping, a tradition since their 2019 conference championship run.
Virginia Wesleyan, based in Virginia Beach, struggled offensively despite generating eight shots. The Marlins’ 0-3 record reflects early-season challenges, with losses to ranked opponents exposing their youth. St. Mary’s capitalized on their experience, with seniors Ziegler (Newark, Del.), Lopez (Timonium, Md.), Allen (Bowie, Md.), Shermeyer (Harrisburg, Pa.), and Vanskiver (Fallston, Md.) leading the charge. The Seahawks’ ability to convert scoring opportunities, particularly on deflections, proved decisive in the low-scoring contest.
The win strengthens St. Mary’s position as a contender in the United East Conference, where they’ll face tougher tests in coming weeks. The team’s next challenge is a home game against Bridgewater College (0-2) on September 6 at 1 p.m. at JLR Stadium. Fans in St. Mary’s City, Leonardtown, and Lexington Park can attend to support the Seahawks or stream the game via smcmathletics.com. Bridgewater, coming off losses to Shenandoah and Washington & Lee, will test St. Mary’s defensive resolve, especially after their third-quarter stand against Virginia Wesleyan’s penalty corner barrage.
