ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s soccer team secured a spot in the United East Conference championship with a 2-0 victory over Penn College in the semifinals Tuesday evening at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium.
The Seahawks, now 13-6-2 overall, controlled the match from the opening whistle on Nov. 4, 2025, building a two-goal lead in the first half and maintaining defensive solidity throughout. Keira O’Neail scored in the ninth minute off an assist from Maddison Spradlin, followed by Felicia Fishburne’s tally in the 35th minute on another Spradlin feed. Goalkeeper Kyleigh Bland preserved the clean sheet with two saves, as St. Mary’s outshot Penn College 16-8 and held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
This marks the second straight season the Seahawks have reached the conference final, underscoring their growing presence in NCAA Division III competition. They will host Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, with kickoff time and other details forthcoming from conference officials. The winner earns the United East’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
St. Mary’s dictated the tempo early, pressing high to force turnovers and create scoring chances. O’Neail’s goal came from a precise through ball by Spradlin, allowing the sophomore forward to slip past defenders and finish low into the corner. The hosts nearly extended the lead shortly after, but Penn College goalkeeper Madison Wetzel denied a bid from Ella Raines. Fishburne’s strike, a sharp volley from 15 yards, capped a fluid buildup involving multiple passes through the midfield, leaving the Nittany Lions unable to mount a sustained response.
Defensively, the Seahawks limited Penn College to eight shots, with Bland’s saves coming on routine efforts in the second half. The back line, anchored by disciplined positioning, cleared multiple threats and won aerial duels, contributing to just one offside call against St. Mary’s compared to Penn College’s single infraction. Fouls were even at 6-5, reflecting a clean, competitive affair under the stadium lights.
Spradlin’s two assists highlighted her playmaking ability, distributing from central midfield with accuracy that exploited gaps in the visitors’ defense. O’Neail and Fishburne each tallied a goal on limited attempts, converting one shot on goal apiece. Raines led the shot chart with three attempts, two on target, while the team’s overall efficiency — 12.5% conversion rate on shots — spoke to their clinical finishing.
For St. Mary’s players, the win validates a season of steady progress. The team navigated a rugged nonconference slate early, facing regional powers like Salisbury University and Christopher Newport, before finding rhythm in league play. Their 13-6-2(8-0 Conf)) United East mark secured the No. 2 seed, setting up this home matchup. Coach Jennifer Klein, in her eighth year, has instilled a possession-based style that prioritizes quick transitions, evident in Spradlin’s dual contributions.
Advancing to the final positions St. Mary’s one victory from their first conference title since 2018. Penn State Harrisburg, the top seed at 15-3-1, presents a stern challenge with a high-powered attack averaging 2.8 goals per game. The Lions downed Susquehanna University 3-1 in the other semifinal, setting up a rematch after St. Mary’s split the regular-season series 1-1.
The championship match, slated for Nov. 8, 2025, will cap a regular season that tested the Seahawks’ depth amid injuries to key reserves. Fans can follow live stats via the conference portal, with tickets available through the college athletics site.
