The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s soccer team defeated Lancaster Bible College 4-0 on Oct. 25, 2025, to secure its second consecutive United East Conference regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Four different Seahawks scored in the road victory, with sophomore forward Nick Haney and junior forward Lucas Evans each contributing a goal and an assist in the second half to seal the shutout.
The win improved St. Mary’s record to 12-5-1 overall and 8-0-0 in conference play, capping a regular season that began with a preseason poll ranking the Seahawks No. 1 among 13 teams. Sophomore midfielder Zach Blaum opened the scoring at 9:30, one-timing a cross from Haney for his fifth goal of the season. Lancaster Bible goalkeeper Chris Jackson made four saves in the first half to keep the game close at halftime.
St. Mary’s broke through early in the second period. Haney headed in a cross from Evans at the far post at 47:09, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Evans added his second goal of the season three minutes later, ripping an unassisted shot from outside the penalty box into the right side of the net at 50:28. Sophomore forward William Marbray provided the final margin at 68:25, beating Jackson to a 20-yard pass from junior forward Franco Reyes and finishing from the edge of the box for his fourth goal.
Junior goalkeeper Jordon Eckman recorded two saves for his fourth shutout, improving his record to 5-2-1. The Seahawks outshot Lancaster Bible 18-9, including a 9-2 edge in shots on goal, and held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. St. Mary’s now leads the all-time series against the Chargers 3-2-1, having won the past two meetings.
Evans and Haney each finished with three points in the contest. Haney, from Chesapeake Beach in Calvert County, took two shots with one on goal. Evans, a Greenbelt native, had one shot on target. Blaum led the team with three shots, one on goal, while Marbray converted his lone attempt. Reyes, who earned United East Offensive Player of the Week honors earlier this season for a two-goal performance in a 1-0-1 week, provided the assist on Marbray’s tally.
The victory extended St. Mary’s unbeaten conference streak to eight matches, a run that included a 2-1 comeback win over Cairn University on Oct. 18 and a 4-3 thriller against Regent University on Oct. 24. The Seahawks entered the weekend tied atop the standings with Penn State Harrisburg but claimed the top spot outright with their perfect 8-0-0 mark.
Lancaster Bible, finishing 8-6-3 overall and 4-3-1 in the United East, will enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed and travel to No. 3 Penn State Abington on Nov. 1. Jackson ended with five saves for the Chargers.
This regular-season title marks the second straight for the program under coach Bobby Pope, who has guided St. Mary’s to 12 wins in each of the past two campaigns. The Seahawks’ 2024 postseason run ended in the first round of the NCAA Championships against Dickinson College, highlighting their competitive edge in a region where Division III soccer prioritizes development over scholarships. Local recruits like Haney and sophomore defender from Fallston underscore the program’s ties to Southern Maryland communities, drawing from high schools in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties through partnerships with youth clubs like the Southern Maryland Soccer Alliance.
St. Mary’s offensive depth has defined the 2025 season, averaging 2.1 goals per game while limiting opponents to 1.2. Defensively, Eckman’s shutouts rank among the conference leaders, supported by a backline that includes regional standouts. As the top seed, the Seahawks draw a favorable path, potentially facing Penn State Harrisburg in the semifinals if both advance.
