MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's enters the third week of the 2025 college soccer season still seeking their first win but will embark on a two-game home stand, hosting San Jose State and Boston U on Thursday and Sunday. The Gaels fell to second ranked Stanford last week but have scored three goals over their past two games and will have a great chance to get in the win column with a pair of home games this week. 

The Gaels will host San Jose State on Thursday at 5:00 PM before their second ever matchup with the Boston Terriers Sunday afternoon. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.   

GAME INFORMATION AND COVERAGE

WSOC | Saint Mary's vs. San Jose State | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | August 28th | 5:00 PM
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets 

WSOC | Saint Mary's vs. Boston U | Saint Mary's Stadium
Moraga, Calif. | August 31st | 1:00 PM
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Tickets 

GAELS OUTLOOK

First Loss at Hands of No. 2 Stanford… 

Saint Mary's conceded just three minutes into the game and eventually went down 2-0 at the half, but were able to get on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half thanks to first year Gael Brooklyn Smith. The momentum was short lived though as the second ranked team in the nation tacked on two more goals to seal the 4-1 victory and remain perfect on the season.

For the Gaels, Smith recorded her first goal since transferring over from Utah State to pull within one in the 52nd minute. Freshman forward Ashlyn Vaughn sprung Sydney Middaugh down the right side of the box who played a beautiful pass across the face of the goal, allowing Smith to tap it in on the back post.

In goal, Kate Plachy recorded a career high seven saves and faced 18 shots from the Stanford offense over the course of the match. The Gaels recorded seven shots of their own but the Cardinal imposed their will offensively as they are proving to be one of the most potent offenses in the country, averaging nearly five goals per game. 

Vaughn Shines over First Two Games of Collegiate Career… 

Freshman forward Ashlyn Vaughn has been a bright young talent in a deep and veteran Gaels squad this season. Over her first two collegiate games, Vaughn has tallied 151 minutes of action, five shots, two assists and got her first career start against No. 2 Stanford last weekend.

Vaughn is the first Saint Mary's freshman to record a point in each of her first two matches since Alexis Gutierrez scored a goal and recorded an assist to start the 2021 season. Gutierrez pushed her points streak to three games with an assist in the team's next match as Vaughn will have the opportunity to do the same this Thursday against San Jose State. Gutierrez went on to be named the WCC Freshman of the Year as the Gaels finished with a ten-win season.  

Series History…

Saint Mary's is unbeaten against San Jose State over their last three matches, dating back to 2022. The three matches featured a pair of wins in 2022 and 2023 and then a scoreless draw last season. 

The Spartans last win over the Gaels came back in 2017 but the last time they won in Moraga was way back in 2006 in a 2-1 overtime victory. Saint Mary's owns a 5-3-2 record over San Jose State dating back to 2006. 

Saint Mary's and Boston U have only met once in their series history. That matchup came all the way back in 2000 when the Terriers defeated the Gaels in Moraga 3-2. Saint Mary's will look for their first win over Boston Sunday afternoon. 

ABOUT THE SPARTANS (Mountain West)

San Jose State enters Thursday's matchup with a 1-2 overall record, suffering defeats to 16th ranked Santa Clara and CSUN before picking up their first win last week over UC Davis. The Spartans were outshot 14-5 in their one-goal defeat to CSUN but bounced back with 12 shots against UC Davis to defeat the Aggies 2-1. Those two goals were the first of the season for SJSU.  

Taejah Aitken, Paige Fry and Leilani White were all named to the Mountain West preseason watch list as the Spartans were picked to finish last amongst the 13 conference programs with 23 points. Sonia Curvelo was hired as the program's head coach in March of 2025, the program's eighth head coach in its history. San Jose State won just one game a season ago and just four over the last two seasons dating back to 2023.

ABOUT THE TERRIERS (Patriot League)

Boston U enters the week 2-1 and will take on fellow WCC member San Francisco Thursday night before crossing the Bay bridge to take on Saint Mary's Sunday afternoon. The Terriers went undefeated in conference play a season ago and knocked off top seed Bucknell in the Patriot League Tournament Championship game, earning their 15th NCAA tournament appearance in program history. 

BU was picked to finish first in the preseason coaches poll and earned eight of the ten first place votes. They also swept the preseason conference awards with players Margy Porta, Giulianna Gianino, Helene Tyburczy and Bridget Carr. Their two wins this season came against New Hampshire and Maine with their lone loss coming against Fairfield last Thursday. 

Boston is led by head coach Megan Burke who has been on staff since 2022 but was recently appointed head coach of the Terriers in January of 2025. 

Both games this week will be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets. Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information. 

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