Junior forward Sam Santos scored in the 28th minute to give St. Mary’s College of Maryland a 1-0 victory over Penn State Berks in United East Conference men’s soccer action Oct. 15, 2025, at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City. The win improved the Seahawks to 9-5-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play, maintaining their lead in the UEC standings with 18 points. Penn State Berks dropped to 3-11 overall and 2-2 in the league, marking its third consecutive defeat.
The Seahawks dominated possession throughout the match under partly cloudy skies with temperatures near 60 degrees, drawing around 100 spectators. Santos struck at 27:14, curling a shot into the top right corner from the left side of the penalty box on an assist from sophomore forward Nick Haney of Chesapeake Beach. Junior goalkeeper Jordon Eckman of Leonardtown preserved the shutout with one save, his third of the season, improving to 4-2-1. Berks goalkeeper Josh Martin turned away 10 shots to keep the game close, but the Nittany Lions managed just four total attempts, one on target.
St. Mary’s outshot Berks 26-4, including 11-1 in shots on goal, and held a 13-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Seahawks committed 16 fouls to Berks’ 11 and allowed four offsides to the visitors’ three. Santos led with four shots, three on goal and his fourth goal of the season. Haney contributed five shots, one on goal and one assist. Junior Zach Blaum added four shots, one on target, while sophomore Matthew Kuwik had three shots, two on goal.
After Santos’ tally, St. Mary’s pressed in the second half, firing 14 shots but hitting the crossbar once and sending others wide or into Martin’s grasp. Berks mounted little offense, focusing on defense in the final stages. The victory extended the Seahawks’ win streak to six, their longest since a seven-game run in 2023 that propelled them to the conference tournament title.
In the United East Conference, formed in 2023 from a merger of the Capital Athletic Conference and North Eastern Athletic Conference, St. Mary’s holds the top spot through Oct. 16, 2025, ahead of teams like Penn State Harrisburg at 2-0-1. The league spans 17 institutions across Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, with the regular season concluding Nov. 2. Top-four teams advance to the tournament, seeded by conference record, with semifinals Nov. 5 and the championship Nov. 9 at the highest seed’s site. A conference title earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament, where 48 teams compete through December.
The Seahawks’ undefeated conference mark reflects a balanced attack, with 25 goals scored in six league games. Coach Chris Adams, in his 12th season, prioritizes possession-based play under NCAA rules that limit games to 90 minutes across two 45-minute halves, with unlimited substitutions in Division III. Offside calls, like the four against St. Mary’s, enforce positioning to maintain fairness, while corner kicks reward defensive clearances near the goal line.
Local talent bolsters the roster, including Eckman from Leonardtown High School and Haney from Northern High in Calvert County. Santos hails from Oakland Mills High in Howard County, adding Mid-Atlantic depth to the 28-player squad. The team debuted at No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings Sept. 17, 2025, highlighting their regional strength. Haney and Eckman earned United East Players of the Week honors Sept. 1 after a strong opener.
The Oct. 18 home game against Cairn University doubles as Senior Day and Hawktoberfest, honoring graduating players with pre-match ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. before the 3 p.m. kickoff. The event features family activities, food vendors and riverfront views, expecting 400 attendees. Cairn enters at 3-7-3 overall and 2-2-1 in the UEC, with St. Mary’s holding a 4-1 series edge. Live stats appear on the conference portal, and video streams on the athletics YouTube channel.
