MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team locked up the No. 1 seed in the 2023 United East Conference Championship Tournament with a road win over SUNY Morrisville Friday afternoon (April 28). Sophomore attacker Hailey Betch (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) tallied seven points to lead St. Mary's College (9-7, 4-0 UEC) to an 18-7 victory over Morrisville (7-8, 4-1 UEC).
 
This marks the second consecutive season the Seahawks have secured the United East regular-season title. For the second straight season, St. Mary's College will serve as the host site for the United East Tournament on May 5-6. Tickets will be $5 for adults; $3 for senior citizens, children 6-18, and non-SMCM students; Free for SMCM faculty, staff, and students and children under 5.
 
How It Happened

• The St. Mary's defense held the Mustangs scoreless for the first 19 minutes of the game and the Seahawk offense took the opportunity to stake an 8-0 lead with 11:54 remaining in the second quarter. Sophomore midfielder Colin Horton (University Park, Md./Elizabeth Seton) led the offensive charge with two goals and two assists while Betch and senior attacker Erin Carmody (Olney, Md./Sherwood) each chipped in three points.
• St. Mary's headed into halftime with a 12-2 lead as Cara Walker scored both for Morrisville.
• A pair of Walker goals sandwiched goals from first-year attacker Katelin Scala (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) and Betch for a 14-4 game with 14:02 left in the game.
• The Seahawks outscored the hosts, 4-3, over the final 12 minutes as junior midfielder Madison Laine (Kingsville, Md./Mercy) scored twice for St. Mary's while Alana McDonald netted all three for the Mustangs.

Inside the Box Score

• The officiating crew awarded 13 cards during the game – 11 yellow and 2 green – and Morrisville had three players suspended for the remainder of the game after receiving their second yellow card.
• St. Mary's scored three player-up goals and two player-down scores while the Mustangs notched a pair of player-down goals.
• The Seahawks racked up 38 shots to Morrisville's 20 while earning a +6-turnover margin as the defense forced 11 of the Mustangs' 18 turnovers.
• St. Mary's posted a 20-10 ground ball margin and won 14 of 25 draw controls.
• The Mustangs struggled to transition the ball as the hosts were 8-of-19 on clears.

 
St. Mary's College Game Notes

• Betch finished the game with five goals and two assists plus four draw controls.
• Horton contributed her 11th hat trick of the season with three goals while handing out three helpers. She also had a career-tying two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
• Scala grabbed six draw controls while chipping in two goals, two assists, and a season- and career-matching two caused turnovers.
• Sophomore defender Jill Hayden (Abell, Md./Chopticon) collected career-bests of three caused turnovers and three grounders to lead the defensive effort for the Seahawks.
• Junior Maddie Clemmer (Middletown, Md./Middletown) came away with six saves for her ninth win in goal.

 
Morrisville Game Notes

• Walker finished the game with five draw controls, four goals, and three ground balls while McDonald ended with a three-goal hat trick.
• Rebecca Thomas made 14 saves as Morrisville saw its three-game win streak snapped.

Up Next for the Seahawks

• Apr. 29 at Wells (2-7, 0-3 UEC) – Aurora, N.Y. – 10:00 a.m.

 
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