ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – Back-to-back! The St. Mary's College of Maryland men's soccer team repeated as the United East Conference champions Saturday afternoon (Nov. 9), claiming the 2024 crown with a shutout victory. Top-seeded St. Mary's College (11-6-3) took down second-seeded Penn State Abington (9-8-4) for the program's fourth league championship title.
Senior forward
Alex Ochman (Rockville, Md./Wootton) picked up Tournament MVP honors after notching a goal and an assist during the playoffs and connecting on the decisive penalty kick to give the Seahawks a 4-3 edge in the semifinal shootout.
With the win, SMCM earns the United East's automatic qualifying berth in the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament, which begins Nov. 16 with first-round action and concludes Dec. 7 with the championship game in Las Vegas, Nev.
St. Mary's College will find out its opponent Monday afternoon (Nov. 11) at 1:30 pm when the 64-team tournament bracket is revealed during the selection show on
NCAA.com.
How It Happened
- Eljo Agolli looked to put the Lions on the scoreboard right away with a low shot nine seconds in, which sophomore goalie Zack Reed (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) handled.
- The Seahawks kept Abington keeper Brendan Warner busy, forcing him to make three saves while the post helped Warner out by denying sophomore forward Lucas Evans (Greenbelt, Md./South River) and Ochman's attempts in the fifth and 32nd minutes, respectively.
- SMCM finally broke through in the 38th minute when Ochman stole the ball away from the Abington defense, dribbled to the left of Warner, who was at the edge of the penalty box, and scored an empty netter at 37:48.
- Warner turned away sophomore forward Franco Reyes' (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair) low shot in the 40th minute to send the Lions into halftime down only one goal.
- Ochman had an opportunity to double the lead for St. Mary's College at 72:13 as the Seahawks were awarded a penalty kick. However, Warner had other thoughts, coming up with the save to maintain the 1-0 score.
- Lightning did not strike twice for Warner as he faced a second penalty kick in the 82nd minute. This time, senior forward Abdoul Anounkou (Togo/Springbrook [Md.]) stepped up to the spot and calmly put the ball to the right of Warner, who was frozen in his spot, for a 2-0 SMCM lead at 81:34.
Inside the Box Score
- St. Mary's College posted a 15-10 (9-1 on goal) shot advantage while corner kicks were even at five apiece.
- The Seahawks stretch their unbeaten streak to 10 (9-0-1) with today's victory.
St. Mary's College
- Ochman and first-year midfielder Zach Blaum (Richmond, Va./Atlee) each fired off four shots (three on goal) to lead SMCM.
- One save was all Reed needed to record his second solo shutout of the season.
Penn State Abington
- Laurence Narcisi tallied a team-best three shots.
- Warner, the league leader in save percentage, finished the game with seven stops.
Up Next for the Seahawks
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