On September 17, the St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team clinched a 2-0 victory against Randolph-Macon College in a non-conference matchup in Ashland, Virginia. The Seahawks, now 5-1, relied on fourth-quarter goals from senior captain Emma Watkins and first-year midfielder Morgan Knott to post their third shutout of the season, halting the Yellow Jackets’ (4-2) two-game win streak. Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Kent, a Chesterville native, anchored the defense with seven saves, marking her second solo shutout this year.
The game opened with both teams locked in a defensive struggle at Randolph-Macon’s Nunnally Field. Through the first three quarters, the Yellow Jackets held a 12-8 shot advantage, but Kent and Randolph-Macon’s goalkeeper Valentina Ambrogi-Torres each made six saves to keep the score at zero. Junior forward Alyssa Riggleman, hailing from Sudlersville, fired St. Mary’s first shot at 17:38 in the second quarter, stopped by Ambrogi-Torres. The third period saw even shots at six apiece, with Ambrogi-Torres adding five saves and Kent three, preserving the deadlock.
The breakthrough came early in the fourth quarter when Watkins, a Frederick native, scored at 3:08, converting a pass from senior midfielder Josie Shermeyer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. St. Mary’s sealed the win with 28 seconds remaining as Knott, from Denton, notched her first collegiate goal. The Seahawks edged out a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal, despite Randolph-Macon’s 16-11 total shot lead. Both teams recorded seven penalty corners.
Kent’s performance in goal was pivotal, turning away all seven shots on target for St. Mary’s, while Ambrogi-Torres matched her with seven saves for the Yellow Jackets. The victory extended St. Mary’s win streak against Randolph-Macon to four games, improving their all-time series record to 17-6. The Seahawks, competing in the Atlantic East Conference, showcased their defensive depth, with Kent’s local ties to the Gunston School in Chestertown adding a Southern Maryland flavor to the effort.
St. Mary’s City, a historic waterfront community along the St. Mary’s River, has long rallied behind its Seahawks, who play at the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, a hub for local sports enthusiasts. The team’s 5-1 start reflects their strong positioning in a competitive season, following a 2024 campaign where they reached the conference semifinals. Randolph-Macon, part of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, struggled to convert opportunities despite their shot volume, a point of frustration for the Ashland-based squad.
The Seahawks return to action on September 20, hosting No. 14 York College of Pennsylvania (4-2) at 1 p.m. at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City. The matchup promises a tough test, as York brings a potent offense and a national ranking.
