The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s soccer team secured a 2-1 victory over Catholic University on September 17, 2025, at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium in St. Mary’s City. Behind two first-half goals and a stellar performance by goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland, the Seahawks improved to 3-3-2 overall and 2-0-1 at home, delighting a crowd of 222.
Megan Rusk opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, capitalizing on an assist from Keira O’Neail to give St. Mary’s a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Ella Raines doubled the advantage, finishing a pass from Maddison Spradlin in the 34th minute. The quick strikes proved decisive, as Catholic mounted significant pressure thereafter but could not fully overcome the deficit.
Catholic dominated possession, outshooting St. Mary’s 28-3 and earning 10 corner kicks compared to the Seahawks’ none. Despite the lopsided stats, Bland’s career-high 15 saves kept the Cardinals at bay. Catholic’s lone goal came in the 62nd minute when Caroline Aponte scored, assisted by Peyton Coron, narrowing the gap to 2-1. The Seahawks’ defense held firm through seven fouls and two offsides, ensuring the victory.
Bland’s performance was pivotal, with Catholic registering 16 shots on goal to St. Mary’s two. The Seahawks’ efficiency contrasted with Catholic’s volume, as the Cardinals committed 10 fouls and one offside. The final stats underscored the defensive battle: Catholic’s 28 shots included 12 off-target attempts, while St. Mary’s made the most of their three shots, two finding the net.
The win marks a strong home stand for St. Mary’s, now unbeaten in three games at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium this season. The Seahawks’ ability to withstand Catholic’s relentless attack highlights their defensive resilience and Bland’s emergence as a key player. Coach Sarah MacLean praised the team’s composure under pressure, noting Bland’s saves as a turning point in the match.
St. Mary’s College, a Division III program competing in the United East Conference, continues to build momentum. The Seahawks’ 3-3-2 record reflects a balanced start, with this win providing a boost ahead of their next challenge. Catholic, now 2-4-1, struggled to convert their statistical dominance into goals, a recurring issue in their road games this season.
The Seahawks return to action on September 20, 2025, hosting Virginia Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m. at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. The matchup offers St. Mary’s a chance to extend their home unbeaten streak against a Virginia Wesleyan team seeking to rebound from a mixed season. Fans can follow the game through live stats and streaming on the St. Mary’s College athletics website.
This victory underscores St. Mary’s ability to compete against aggressive opponents, setting the stage for a critical stretch of conference play. Southern Maryland soccer fans can expect another competitive showing as the Seahawks aim to build on their home-field advantage.
