Junior midfielder Hope Harrison of Catonsville delivered a standout performance with career-high four goals and five points, but the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team fell short in a tight 9-8 overtime loss to the University of Lynchburg on February 18, 2026, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Harrison, from Mount de Sales, sparked the Seahawks (0-2) early, scoring back-to-back goals during a three-goal run that built a 3-1 lead with 14:31 left in the second quarter. Lynchburg (3-0) answered with three consecutive tallies to edge ahead 4-3 late in the half, but junior midfielder Sanne Elling from Ocean View, Delaware, tied it at 4-4 with 59 seconds remaining before halftime.
The Seahawks surged in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 4-0. Elling added her second goal, Harrison netted two more, and the visitors took an 8-4 advantage into the final period.
Lynchburg mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth, scoring four unanswered goals—including one with 34 seconds left—to force overtime at 8-8. Senior attack McKenna Steinau sealed the win for the hosts with a free-position goal at the 3:28 mark of the extra session.
Harrison finished with four goals and one assist, while Elling contributed two goals, four draw controls, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers. Junior attacker Grace Maurice from Clinton, Connecticut, added one goal and one assist. Senior captain Gina Jaffurs from Leonardtown and sophomore Ella Mathais from Annandale, Virginia, each recorded two caused turnovers and two ground balls on defense.
Junior goalie Allie Greeley from Havre de Grace made nine saves and collected a career-best three ground balls as the Seahawks held a 14-12 edge in loose balls.
Lynchburg’s Sydney Dumas and Steinau each scored four goals to lead the Hornets. Goalkeeper Olivia Ownings recorded four saves. The hosts held advantages in shots (30-22), draw controls (11-8), and turnovers forced (+3 margin).
Both teams went 2-for-6 on free-position attempts.
The loss marked the second straight for St. Mary’s under first-year head coach Madison Heck, following a 17-9 season-opening defeat to Roanoke on February 14. Harrison had led that game with three points on two goals and one assist.
The Seahawks return home to face Shenandoah University (1-0) on February 21 at 3:30 p.m. at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City for a “Play Like Jamie” contest.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, located in Southern Maryland, competes in NCAA Division III and draws significant local talent, with players like Harrison (Catonsville), Jaffurs (Leonardtown), and others contributing to the program. The game against Lynchburg showcased the competitive non-conference slate early in the 2026 season.
