Wednesday, October 22
San Diego, CA
7:00 PM
Saint Mary's College of California
9-2-3, 4-1-2
2
at
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San Diego
4-4-6, 1-4-2
1
2
F
Saint Mary's (CA)
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San Diego
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#31 Sydney Middaugh: 77 MP, 6 SH, 2 G (7) in 2-1 win vs. San Diego
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WSOC | Gaels Hold Off Toreros in 2-1 Road Win
10/22/2025 10:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Saint Mary's showdown against San Diego resulted in a 2-1 victory in their first game of a two-match SoCal road trip. With the road win, the Gaels moved into sole possession of second place ahead of their matchup with Pepperdine on Saturday.
Saint Mary's controlled much of the action, outshooting San Diego 23-11 and falling just short of the team's season high 26 shots set earlier against both San Jose State and LMU. Of the 23 attempts, eight were on target. Sydney Middaugh led the Gaels attack, tallying six shots and scoring both goals to secure the victory. The strikes marked the junior forward's sixth and seventh of the year and tied her for second most goals in the WCC this season.
FIRST HALF SMC 1 - 0 USD
Saint Mary's took control from the kickoff, dominating possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities. The first goal came in the 38th minute, when Aleiyah Schexnayder found Brooklyn Smith, who then delivered the ball to Sydney Middaugh on the left side of the field. Middaugh drove into the 18-yard box and skillfully squeezed the ball past multiple defenders and the goalkeeper to give the Gaels the lead before the break. By the end of the first half, the Gaels had outshot the Toreros 14-5.
FINAL SMC 2 - 1 USD
Momentum continued into the second half, with Saint Mary's adding nine more shots to the stat sheet. Middaugh added her second goal of the night in the 62nd minute, battling through defensive pressure and slipping the ball past her defender. Even with three defenders nearby, the Hesperia native calmly finished into the upper netting, giving the Gaels a 2-0 advantage.
The Toreros added a late strike from sophomore Ella Callanan, but it wasn't enough to overcome the two-goal deficit as the Gaels held on for a 2-1 victory on the road.
Goalkeeper Kate Plachy helped preserve the lead, recording four saves on the night. Full match efforts came from Amari Hicks, Molly Silva, Savannah Schwarze, Madison Casado, Maddie Lucas, and Aleiyah Schexnayder.
LOOKING AHEAD
The success improves Saint Mary's conference record to 4-1-2. The Gaels now turn their focus to a crucial matchup against the WCC's leading team Pepperdine on Saturday, October 25th at 12:00 PM. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased at smcgaels.com.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Saint Mary's controlled much of the action, outshooting San Diego 23-11 and falling just short of the team's season high 26 shots set earlier against both San Jose State and LMU. Of the 23 attempts, eight were on target. Sydney Middaugh led the Gaels attack, tallying six shots and scoring both goals to secure the victory. The strikes marked the junior forward's sixth and seventh of the year and tied her for second most goals in the WCC this season.
FIRST HALF SMC 1 - 0 USD
Saint Mary's took control from the kickoff, dominating possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities. The first goal came in the 38th minute, when Aleiyah Schexnayder found Brooklyn Smith, who then delivered the ball to Sydney Middaugh on the left side of the field. Middaugh drove into the 18-yard box and skillfully squeezed the ball past multiple defenders and the goalkeeper to give the Gaels the lead before the break. By the end of the first half, the Gaels had outshot the Toreros 14-5.
38' | SMC 1 - 0 USD
— Saint Mary's Women's Soccer (@SMC_WSoccer) October 23, 2025
Sydney Middaugh with a GAELS GOAL!!! 🙌 @WCCsports #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/sKGKwJeC5I
FINAL SMC 2 - 1 USD
Momentum continued into the second half, with Saint Mary's adding nine more shots to the stat sheet. Middaugh added her second goal of the night in the 62nd minute, battling through defensive pressure and slipping the ball past her defender. Even with three defenders nearby, the Hesperia native calmly finished into the upper netting, giving the Gaels a 2-0 advantage.
68' | SMC 2 - 0 USD
— Saint Mary's Women's Soccer (@SMC_WSoccer) October 23, 2025
Add another one for Middaugh!!🔥🔥 @WCCsports #GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/25sfKPBsGO
The Toreros added a late strike from sophomore Ella Callanan, but it wasn't enough to overcome the two-goal deficit as the Gaels held on for a 2-1 victory on the road.
Goalkeeper Kate Plachy helped preserve the lead, recording four saves on the night. Full match efforts came from Amari Hicks, Molly Silva, Savannah Schwarze, Madison Casado, Maddie Lucas, and Aleiyah Schexnayder.
LOOKING AHEAD
The success improves Saint Mary's conference record to 4-1-2. The Gaels now turn their focus to a crucial matchup against the WCC's leading team Pepperdine on Saturday, October 25th at 12:00 PM. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be purchased at smcgaels.com.
Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
SMC
USD
Goals
2
1
Shots
23
11
Shots on Goal
8
5
Saves
4
6
Corners
8
3
Fouls
15
11
Scoring Plays
Sydney Middaugh (7)
Assisted By: Brooklyn Smith , Aleiyah Schexnayder
31 beats offsides trap and runs onto through ball by 30 down left flank, dribbles into box, cuts toward center and shoots right-footed into bottom right from 12 yards
37:46
Sydney Middaugh (7)
Great individual effort by 31, with lengthy dribbling run around defender down to right end line before left-footed shot from narrow angle on right edge of 6-yard box
61:50
Ella Callanan (2)
Assisted By: Kate Sealy
Perfectly-weighted, deep through ball down left flank by 5 that 6 runs onto and shoots left-footed from left edge of 6-yard box low to center
86:45
Game Leaders
Shots
6
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerF
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