St. Mary’s City, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s soccer team fell 4-0 to Virginia Wesleyan University on September 20, 2025, at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. The nonconference matchup drew 161 spectators under clear afternoon skies, with the Marlins dominating possession and chances from the opening whistle.
Virginia Wesleyan, now 5-1-1 overall, struck first at the 1:13 mark when Shyenne Diaz found the net for her second goal of the season. The visitors from Virginia Beach extended their lead in the 10th minute on Kaylyn Seitz’s second tally, followed by a penalty kick conversion from Alexis Miller in the 45th minute, sending the Marlins into halftime with a 3-0 advantage. Charlotte Gantt added insurance in the 83rd minute, her first goal of the year, to cap the scoring.
St. Mary’s, slipping to 3-4-2, managed just three shots total, one on target, against a Marlins defense that allowed only that single effort. Goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland anchored the Seahawks’ backline with seven saves on 28 shots faced, including four in the first half alone. The Marlins held an 11-1 edge in shots on goal and a 10-1 lead in corner kicks, while fouls were even at 4 apiece. No cards were issued in the contest, officiated by referee Brandon Ingram with assistants Jonathan Mitchell and Chesley Phillips.
The loss marked a tough stretch for St. Mary’s, which opened the 2025 campaign with a 3-1 home win over Neumann University on September 2, thanks to a balanced attack and Bland’s four saves in that victory. Since then, the Seahawks have navigated a schedule blending nonconference tests like this one with early United East Conference tune-ups, where they sit at 0-0-0 entering league play.
Virginia Wesleyan’s offensive surge continues a strong start under head coach Christopher Crane, who guided the Marlins to a 2-0 shutout win over the University of Mary Washington on September 13 in Virginia Beach. Diaz and Seitz, both with two goals apiece early in the season, highlight a forward line that has tested defenses across the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, where the Marlins compete at the NCAA Division III level. Their road trip to Southern Maryland exposed St. Mary’s early vulnerabilities, particularly in midfield transitions, where the Seahawks committed two fouls in the opening 10 minutes.
The United East Conference, spanning Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, features 10 women’s soccer programs competing for an automatic NCAA Division III bid. As of September 22, 2025, early standings show Penn State Berks atop the league at 4-0-1 in conference play, while St. Mary’s prepares for its debut league slate. Rules here mirror national D-III guidelines: 18 regular-season games maximum, with ties resolved by sudden-victory overtime in tournaments. For the Seahawks, conference eligibility kicks in October, with home dates against Frostburg State on October 4 and Penn State Harrisburg on October 18.
Looking ahead, Bland’s consistency in net—now with 11 saves over the last two outings—offers a bright spot. The sophomore from Fairfax, Virginia, started all 16 games in 2024, posting a 1.45 goals-against average that ranked third in the conference. Her performance against Virginia Wesleyan echoes a shutout bid in the Neumann opener, where she denied a late equalizer. Teammates like forward Ava Amado, who netted the game-winner against Neumann, will need to step up offensively; the Seahawks average 1.2 goals per game through nine matches.
Virginia’s Marlins, meanwhile, boast a richer recent history, including a 2021 ODAC tournament run and multiple all-region selections. Their 2025 schedule includes rematches with regional rivals like Mary Washington and Emory & Henry, positioning them for another postseason push in a conference known for tight races—last year’s ODAC final went to extra time. Travel logistics for such games, often 200-plus miles from Virginia Beach, test squad depth, much like St. Mary’s road trips to Pennsylvania.
As the season progresses, St. Mary’s eyes redemption against Valley Forge University on September 27 at 3:30 p.m., back at Roberts Stadium. The Patriots, 2-5-1 entering the week, present a winnable matchup in a series St. Mary’s leads 3-1 since 2019. A win there could steady the ship before conference openers, where the Seahawks aim to climb from last year’s fourth-place finish.
St. Mary’s women’s soccer, through ebbs like this 4-0 defeat, embodies resilience—a trait honed since the program’s inception amid the college’s 1970s expansion. Future fixtures, including a October 11 clash with conference foe Juniata, test that mettle. Until then, Bland and crew regroup, turning a shutout loss into tactical fuel for the weeks ahead.
