The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s soccer team capped Senior Day with a 4-0 victory over Cairn University on Saturday evening, October 18, extending its unbeaten streak in United East Conference play to seven matches. The shutout at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium improved the Seahawks’ record to 10-4-2 overall and 7-0 in conference action, clinching at least a share of the league title with four regular-season games remaining.
St. Mary’s asserted dominance early, striking twice within the first 23 minutes. Forward Ella Raines converted in the 20th minute, directing a low shot to the far post after a buildup from midfield. Three minutes later, Allie Petryszak headed in a cross from Ashlyn Bonner, exploiting space on the right flank. The second half brought more pressure, with Erin Clark burying a penalty kick in the 55th minute following a foul inside the box. Mia McKenzie sealed the margin in the 69th minute, finishing a through ball from Felicia Fishburne during a swift counter.
The Seahawks controlled possession and chances, firing 29 shots to Cairn’s three while claiming 13 corner kicks to the Highlanders’ one. Goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland secured her seventh clean sheet of the season, stopping two attempts in 45 minutes of action. Defenders limited Cairn to minimal threats, reflecting a unit that has conceded just four goals in conference matches.
The pregame ceremony honored nine seniors for their roles in elevating the program: Ashlyn Bonner, Chekesa Edwards, Felicia Fishburne, Julia Heavner, Lillee Hayes, Madelyn Kelly, Mia McKenzie, Lila Owens and Ella Raines. Bonner, a midfielder with two assists this season, anchored the attack alongside Raines, who leads the team with nine goals. McKenzie contributed five goals and three assists entering the match, while Fishburne added defensive stability with two goals. The class arrived amid a rebuilding phase after a 5-9-3 campaign in 2024, their freshman year, and helped secure the program’s first winning season since 2022.
St. Mary’s entered the weekend ranked No. 5 in United Soccer Coaches Region IV polls, trailing only programs from larger conferences like the Landmark and Centennial. The victory followed a 2-0 road win at Lancaster Bible on October 11, part of a stretch that included a 10-0 rout of Keystone on October 4 and a 7-1 decision over Notre Dame of Maryland on October 7. Those results positioned the Seahawks atop the United East standings, level on points with Penn State Harrisburg at 7-0 following their parallel wins. Penn College ranked third at 3-1, with the top four advancing to the conference tournament starting October 29.
Head coach Fraser MacKay, in his third season, praised the seniors’ influence on a squad blending experience with youth. The program, established in 1986, has posted three NCAA tournament appearances, most recently in 2019 when it reached the second round. Current metrics show St. Mary’s leading the conference in goals per game at 3.2 and assists at 2.1, with Bland’s .875 save percentage ranking second. Offensively, Raines and McKenzie combine for 14 goals, supported by Petryszak’s four.
The shutout marked the team’s fourth straight in league play, a streak dating to September 24 against Penn State Abington. Cairn, winless in six conference outings at 0-6-1, managed one shot on target despite defensive adjustments. The Highlanders, based in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, travel to Wilson on October 22.
St. Mary’s resumes action Tuesday, October 21, hosting Penn State Abington at 3 p.m. The Nittany Lions sit fifth at 4-2-1, offering a test before road trips to Penn State Berks on October 25 and Gallaudet on October 29. A win would extend the unbeaten run to eight, solidifying seeding for the postseason push.
