ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland field hockey team used a goal in each half Saturday afternoon (Nov. 2) to advance to the 2024 United East Conference championship game.
Top-seeded St. Mary's College (9-10) knocked off fourth-seeded Penn State Harrisburg (9-7), 2-0, as juniors
Brenna Ziegler (Newark, Del./Newark Charter) and
Josie Shermeyer (Harrisburg, Pa./East Pennsboro) each found the back of the cage.
Ziegler picked up her 100th career point when she scored the game's first goal, becoming just the second Seahawk ever to break the century mark behind
Lauriann Parker '13. Parker finished her illustrious career as the program's all-time leader with 44 goals and 23 assists for 111 points.
The Seahawks will now take on third-seeded Keystone College (9-7), a 5-3 winner on the road over second-seeded Wilson College (11-4) in Saturday's other semifinal matchup, in next Saturday's (Nov. 9) championship game.
During the regular season, SMCM posted a 3-0 triumph over Keystone (Oct. 19) behind goals from Ziegler and juniors
Jena Vanskiver (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and
Emma Watkins (Frederick, Md./Linganore).
How It Happened
- Despite facing 11 shots in the first quarter alone, Harrisburg's Macenzie Mulholland denied all six attempts on goal to keep it scoreless after the first 15 minutes of action.
- Ziegler broke through with an unassisted goal three minutes into the second period as she dribbled into the circle from the right side and fired a shot into the lower left corner at 18:23.
- Mulholland continued to be tough in goal as St. Mary's College kept up its attack, but the Seahawks headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
- SMCM wasted no time in doubling its lead, scoring 40 seconds into the start of the second half. Junior forward Briana Allen (Bowie, Md./Mount de Sales) passed back to Shermeyer at the edge of the circle, unleashing a rocket just inside the near post for her third tally of the season.
- The St. Mary's College defense was a tough nut to crack as the Lions didn't take their first shot until the 45th minute when Bailey Rucker put one on Sophia Kent's (Chesterville, Md./Gunston) pads.
Inside the Box Score
- The Seahawks notched a 27-2 (18-1 on goal) shot advantage while collecting a 10-2 margin in penalty corners.
St. Mary's College
- Ziegler led all players with seven shots (five on goal) while notching her team-leading fifth game-winning goal of the season.
- Kent finished the afternoon with one save for her fourth solo shutout.
Penn State Harrisburg
- Mulholland posted 16 stops for the Lions.
Up Next for the Seahawks
- Nov. 9 vs. Keystone (9-7) – St. Mary's City, Md. (JLR Stadium) – TBD
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