ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – First-year head coach Madison Heck secured her inaugural victory with the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team, leading the Seahawks to a 9-6 nonconference win over Stevenson University on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
The Seahawks improved to 1-4 overall while handing Stevenson its second consecutive defeat, dropping the Mustangs to 2-4. St. Mary’s controlled key facets of the game, including a decisive 13-4 edge in draw controls and narrow advantages in shots (25-24) and ground balls (18-16).
St. Mary’s built an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter, fueled by junior midfielder Sanne Elling’s goal and assist. Stevenson narrowed the gap to 3-2 early in the second period before the teams traded single goals, entering halftime tied at 3-3. Alice Petersen scored the lone tally in the second quarter for the Seahawks.
The third quarter shifted momentum decisively in St. Mary’s favor. Senior captains Gina Jaffurs and Katelin Scala, along with junior attacker Grace Maurice, netted three unanswered goals to open a 6-3 lead. Stevenson responded with Zoe Kaplan’s third goal of the season, but the Seahawks answered with three consecutive scores to extend the margin to 9-4 with 14:16 remaining.
Both teams tightened defensively in the final stretch, with Stevenson managing two late goals that failed to close the gap. Junior goalkeeper Alli Greeley anchored the Seahawks with a season-high 12 saves.
Elling paced the offense with two goals and a career-best two assists. Scala added two goals, while first-year attacker Sarah Fitter recorded a career-high four points on one goal and three assists. Junior midfielder Hope Harrison contributed one goal, four draw controls, three ground balls, and three caused turnovers. Senior Gina Jaffurs also forced three turnovers.
Defensively, junior Claire Boudreau dominated draw controls with a season-best seven. The Seahawks limited Stevenson to 3-for-8 on free-position shots, while going 1-for-5 themselves.
Stevenson received multi-goal performances from Ava Treakle and Hailey Johnson, each with two scores. Goalkeeper Regan Torbert made 11 saves in the loss.
The victory marks a milestone for Heck in her first season leading the program. St. Mary’s demonstrated improved ball possession and transition play, particularly in the second half, where the team’s draw control dominance prevented Stevenson from generating sustained pressure.
The Seahawks next travel to face Randolph-Macon College (4-2) in Ashland, Virginia, on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. They return home Saturday, March 14, to host Widener University (3-2) at JLR Stadium in St. Mary’s City at 11 a.m. for the Alumnae & Faculty/Staff Appreciation Game.