Ashland, Va. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s soccer team mounted a spirited second-half effort but fell 2-0 to Randolph-Macon College on September 13, 2025, at Nunnally Field. The loss dropped the Seahawks to 2-3-2 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets improved to 1-3-1.
Randolph-Macon broke through early in the second half, with Madison Blanchard scoring in the 46th minute to end a tightly contested opening period. Ally Spangler sealed the result in the 79th minute, converting an assist from Ariel Farmer for the insurance goal. Despite a scoreless first half, the Seahawks faced relentless pressure, with goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland making nine of her 12 saves before the break to keep the game level. Bland faced 29 shots total, 14 on target, in a standout performance.
St. Mary’s offense woke up after halftime, generating 14 of their 15 shots in the second period. Forward Gracie Tourangeau paced the attack with five shots, two on goal, while Megan Rusk, Sidney Shaw, and Maddison Spradlin each tested Randolph-Macon’s Erin Morris, who stopped all seven Seahawk shots on target to earn the shutout. The Seahawks also earned seven corner kicks, nearly matching the Yellow Jackets’ eight, and created several late chances but couldn’t convert.
The match saw Randolph-Macon dominate shot volume, firing 29 attempts to St. Mary’s 15. The Yellow Jackets committed five fouls to the Seahawks’ four, with no cards issued. The physical, fast-paced contest showcased St. Mary’s resilience, particularly in goal, where Bland’s dozen saves marked a career high for the season, per team records.
For St. Mary’s, the loss highlights areas for growth as they prepare for conference play. Coach Pete Krech, in his 10th season, has emphasized building depth, with Tourangeau emerging as a key offensive threat. The sophomore forward’s five shots against Randolph-Macon follow her team-leading three goals this season, per game logs. Meanwhile, Bland’s performance in net reinforces her role as a backbone, with a save percentage hovering near 80% through seven matches.
The Seahawks’ seven corners, particularly in the second half, reflect a tactical shift to exploit set pieces, a strategy Krech has prioritized against physically imposing teams.
Looking ahead, St. Mary’s returns home to face Catholic University on September 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. Catholic, a Landmark Conference foe, enters with a 3-2-1 record, fresh off a 1-0 win over Juniata College. The matchup offers St. Mary’s a chance to rebound before their United East opener against Gallaudet on September 27. Home games are critical for the Seahawks, who drew over 300 fans to their last home match, a 1-1 draw against Eastern University, per attendance records.
Historically, St. Mary’s has faced Randolph-Macon sparingly, with this being their first meeting since 2019, a 3-1 Yellow Jackets win. The Seahawks’ last victory in the series came in 2017, a 2-0 result at home.
As St. Mary’s prepares for Catholic, Krech will likely lean on Tourangeau’s spark and Bland’s reliability while tightening defensive marking, which faltered on Blanchard’s opener. The Seahawks’ ability to generate corners late against Randolph-Macon suggests potential for set-piece goals, an area where Spradlin, a senior midfielder, excels with her delivery. With five home games left in the regular season, St. Mary’s aims to capitalize on local backing to climb the conference standings.
