St. Mary's Dominates Va. Wesleyan in Season-Opener
St. Mary's City, Md. - Katie Lange's initiation as a first-year collegiate head coach went off without a hitch as Coach Lange's Seahawks posted a convincing 6-1 victory over the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College Saturday afternoon in field hockey action. Today's contest marked the home- and season-opener for St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Helping to notch Coach Lange's first career win were the trio of senior captain Emily Smithson (Richmond, Va./James River) and forwards Ryan O'Malley (Crownsville, Md./Severn) and Susan Smith (Chestertown, Md./Queen Anne's) who each scored twice for the Seahawks.
St. Mary's owned a 3-1 halftime advantage following one goal each from Smith (2:35), O'Malley (9:22), and Smithson (26:32). The Seahawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 9:22 minutes before VWC got on the scoreboard with a tally from freshman forward Courtney Eisert (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield).
Smithson gave SMCM a three-goal lead at 43:59 and then assisted on O'Malley's second of the day at 48:23. Smith, a freshman forward, picked up her second goal at 56:02 to seal the win for St. Mary's.
VWC registered nine penalty corners to the Hawks' five but the Marlins were unable to capitalize, while St. Mary's outshot Virginia Wesleyan, 30-6.
Sophomore Emma Lauhoff (Wayne, Pa./Radnor) made three saves in her first collegiate start for the Seahawks.
Sophomore Kieara Mowery (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) started in goal for the Marlins, picking up 10 saves and giving up three goals. Freshman Chelsea Baker (Norfolk, Va./Granby) then relieved Mowery at the start of the second stanza, stopping five shots and allowing three scores as well.
St. Mary's will return to action next Wednesday, September 3 when the Hawks host Capital Athletic Conference foe, Stevenson University, at 4:00 in Seahawk Stadium. The Marlins will travel to Washington, D.C. on Labor Day to take on Catholic University in non-conference play at noon.
