The St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team dropped a 15-9 non-conference decision to No. 16 Messiah University on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Grantham, Pennsylvania. Senior captain Katelin Scala (Catonsville, Maryland/Mount de Sales) delivered a standout performance with a career-best five goals, but the Seahawks fell to 1-8 overall against the Falcons’ 4-4 record during their three-game road stretch.
Scala powered the offense throughout, scoring five times—including the final two goals of the contest at 3:11 and 1:12 in the fourth quarter—while adding three draw controls and one caused turnover. Junior midfielder Sanne Elling (Ocean View, Delaware/Sussex) contributed two goals and four draw controls, including the game’s opening tally three minutes in off an assist from senior captain Gina Jaffurs (Leonardtown, Maryland/St. Mary’s Ryken). Jaffurs finished with one goal, two assists, three ground balls, one caused turnover, and one draw control. Junior goalie Allie Greeley (Havre de Grace, Maryland/Havre de Grace) turned in a season-high 14 saves, plus two ground balls and one caused turnover.
A 5′ 5″ Senior Business Credit: Billy Higgins / St. Mary's College of Maryland
The Seahawks jumped to an early 1-0 lead before Messiah responded with three straight goals for a 3-1 edge late in the first quarter. St. Mary’s answered with two quick strikes in under a minute to tie it at 3-3 with 2:51 left in the period, but the Falcons scored the frame’s final goal for a 4-3 halftime lead. Messiah opened the second quarter with three more goals before Scala netted back-to-back tallies to pull within 7-5 at 1:33 remaining. Hayley Lettinga added a late goal for Messiah, sending the hosts into halftime up 8-5.
Elling cut the deficit to two early in the third with a goal less than two minutes in, but Messiah surged with a 7-1 run to build a commanding 15-7 advantage by 3:43 in the fourth. St. Mary’s closed with Scala’s pair in the final minutes for the 15-9 final.
Messiah held advantages in shots (38-27) and ground balls (24-15), while turnovers were even at 17 each and draw controls split 13-13. The Seahawks converted a season-best three free-position goals on four attempts (Messiah went 3-for-6). Lettinga led the Falcons with five goals, and Grace Hejeebu made 11 saves in goal.
This matchup tested the Seahawks against ranked competition on the road, part of a demanding early-season slate for the United East Conference program. St. Mary’s College, based in St. Mary’s City, draws talent from across Southern Maryland, including players like Jaffurs from Leonardtown, supporting local high school pipelines in St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties. The team’s resilience showed in offensive bursts and defensive efforts from Greeley, even against a strong Messiah squad ranked No. 16 nationally.
The Seahawks continue their road schedule with a 1 p.m. game at Wilson College (0-7) in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on March 28 at Kris’s Meadow.
