Seniors Brenna Ziegler and Jena Vanskiver of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland field hockey team earned United East Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards, respectively, as announced by the league office on October 13, 2025. The honors followed a 2-0 week for the Seahawks, who posted road victories over Immaculata University and Lancaster Bible College to improve to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Ziegler, a 5-foot-9 forward from Newark, Delaware, who attended Newark Charter High School, led the team with three goals during the stretch. She scored the game-winner in a 6-0 shutout at Immaculata on October 8, marking her 13th career game-winning goal and setting the program’s all-time record, surpassing the previous mark of 12 held by Amy Skrickus from the class of 2008 and tied by Lauriann Parker from the class of 2013. Ziegler added two goals in a 4-0 win at Lancaster Bible on October 11. This marked her sixth career conference offensive player of the week award, her third in the United East, and her second of the 2025 season.
Through 12 games, Ziegler ranks second in the United East with four game-winning goals and 50 shots. She sits third in the conference with 21 points, nine goals, and 33 shots on goal, while tying for eighth with three assists. Her performance builds on a decorated career, including second-team All-NFHCA Region IV honors in 2024 and inclusion on the NFHCA Watchlist that year. Ziegler entered the season as the program’s all-time leader in goals with 46 and points with 113, records she extended during an 8-0 victory over Wittenberg University on September 28, 2025. Her accolades also include three All-NFHCA Region IV selections and the 2022 Atlantic East Rookie of the Year before the team’s move to the United East in 2024.
Vanskiver, from Fallston, Maryland, who graduated from Fallston High School, contributed offensively and defensively. She scored a career-best two goals against Immaculata, including one on a penalty stroke, while helping limit the Mighty Macs to two shots on goal and no penalty corners for the team’s fifth shutout of the season. Against Lancaster Bible, she assisted on the second goal and anchored a defense that held the Chargers to one shot and one penalty corner, securing the third consecutive shutout. This was Vanskiver’s third career league defensive player of the week honor.
Vanskiver leads the United East with five defensive saves, ranks fifth with 28 shots, and ties for sixth with 14 shots on goal. Her efforts place her among the top in Division III for defensive saves, contributing to a Seahawks defense that has recorded six shutouts through mid-October. As a senior captain, Vanskiver has started all games in her career, tying for third on the team with one game-winning goal in 2025 and aiding the transition from the Atlantic East Conference, where the Seahawks won the 2023 tournament title.
The Seahawks’ week extended a three-game winning streak, with the team outscoring opponents 16-0 in that span. The 6-0 win over Immaculata marked the fifth straight victory in the all-time series, while the Lancaster Bible shutout opened conference play with dominance, featuring a 22-1 shot advantage and 17-1 in penalty corners. St. Mary’s College ranks sixth in the NFHCA Region IV poll as of October 9, 2025, behind Penn State Harrisburg at fifth.The team has outscored foes 38-13 overall, with eight shutouts entering the week, matching the 2024 total.
St. Mary’s College next hosts Penn State Harrisburg, which stands at 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference, on October 15, 2025, at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium in St. Mary’s City at 5 p.m. The game celebrates National Coming Out Day, part of the Seahawks’ community engagement efforts. The 16-game 2025 schedule includes eight home contests, with the team entering as the preseason favorite after capturing the 2024 United East championship and advancing to the NCAA Division III tournament’s first round.
Ziegler’s second offensive award of 2025 follows her September 8 honor after a 2-0 shutout over Virginia Wesleyan. Other 2025 United East Offensive Players of the Week include Ami Mattingly of Penn State Harrisburg on September 1, September 15, and October 6; Riley Danko of Lancaster Bible on September 22; and Kate Seymour of Wilson on September 29.
For Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Kent from St. Mary’s College earned honors on September 8, September 15, and September 22. Others include Sara Yeselavage of Penn State Harrisburg on September 1, Jade Syto of Wilson on September 29, and Erin Sullivan of Wilson on October 6. Kent ranks 23rd in Division III with an 83.5 percent save percentage.
