ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — Three St. Mary’s College of Maryland athletes collected United East Conference weekly honors this week, underlining the strong showing by Maryland natives on Seahawk teams across lacrosse, track and field, and tennis.
Senior captain Katelin Scala of Catonsville earned United East Conference Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, March 23. This marks the second straight week a Seahawk women’s lacrosse player has taken the award. Scala, a 5-5 attacker, posted 11 draw controls, six goals, two ground balls, two caused turnovers and one assist across two games. She recorded a goal and an assist with a season-high eight draws, two ground balls and one caused turnover in a 15-13 loss at Washington College on March 17. She then delivered a career-high five goals with three draws and one caused turnover in a 15-9 loss at No. 16 Messiah University. Scala ranks second in the conference with 26 draw controls, fifth with 13 goals and tied for sixth with 17 points. The Seahawks stand at 1-8 overall and open United East Conference play Saturday, March 28, at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., at 1 p.m.
Senior Nicholas Haylock of Odenton claimed United East Conference Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week honors on Tuesday, March 24. It is his first outdoor track weekly award but second overall after earning indoor track honors on Dec. 10, 2024. The 6-1 sprinter and hurdler ran 58.88 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles to finish 12th at the University of Richmond’s Fred Hardy Invitational on March 20. That time ranks third in the Mid-Atlantic region and first in the United East Conference. He also anchored the seventh-place 4×100-meter relay team that clocked 43.93 seconds. St. Mary’s College hosts the Seahawk Invite on Saturday, March 28, at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium.
First-year Lily Ganjbaksh of Potomac earned United East Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, March 24. It is her third career league award. Ganjbaksh went 4-1 at No. 1 singles and 4-1 at No. 1 doubles during the team’s five-match spring break trip. She posted straight-set singles victories over opponents from The College of Wooster, Schreiner University, Ripon College and Cedar Crest College. Her only singles loss came in a three-set battle against College of Saint Mary (Neb.). In doubles, she teamed with Addyson Harden for three wins and with Sarah Levit for one win. The Seahawks finished the trip 2-3 and stand at 4-4 overall with a 1-0 mark in conference play. St. Mary’s College hosts Notre Dame of Maryland University on Wednesday, March 25, at 3 p.m. at the Somerset Tennis Complex.
The honors reflect the continued success of Maryland athletes at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the region’s flagship public liberal arts institution. Scala, a Mount de Sales product, has emerged as a draw-control leader and scoring threat for the women’s lacrosse team. Haylock, a Meade High School graduate, continues to build on his indoor success with standout outdoor performances. Ganjbaksh, from Winston Churchill High School, has anchored the women’s tennis lineup at the top singles and doubles spots.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland competes in the United East Conference, where weekly awards highlight standout performances across 14 member institutions. The Seahawks’ recent honors follow earlier weekly selections for teammates Hope Harrison and Gina Jaffurs in women’s lacrosse and Ganjbaksh’s own earlier tennis award in September. Local athletes from Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties are driving results for the college, which draws students from across Southern Maryland and the broader state.
The awards come as spring sports ramp up. Women’s lacrosse opens conference play this weekend looking to build on Scala’s production. Men’s outdoor track hosts its first home meet of the season. Women’s tennis looks to extend its early conference win streak against Notre Dame of Maryland. Each honor adds momentum heading into the heart of the conference schedule.
Southern Maryland residents can follow the Seahawks through the college’s athletics website. The trio of awards underscores the quality of competition and development at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where student-athletes balance rigorous academics with high-level athletics. The weekly recognitions from the United East Conference office in Latham, N.Y., celebrate the best performances across the league each week.
