St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Comeback Falls Short
9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
After falling behind 2-0 before the half, St. John?s stormed back to tie the game at two, but could not hold on, as the Mountaineers tallied a late score to win 3-2.
Nicole Cauzillo opened up scoring in the first half, beating Red Storm keeper Tracey Rollings to the left side of the goal.
After the Red Storm failed to clear a corner kick, Marisa Kanela set up for a shot which was deflected by a St. John?s defender straight to Cauzillo, who nailed the 15-yarder 4:20 into action.
The Mountaineers continued their attack as Lisa Stoia fed a breaking Chrissie Abbott who outran the Red Storm defense, picked up the ball and beat a diving Rollings to the lower right post in a one-on-one situation.
Kaitlin Schmidt?s shot, which was blocked by WV keeper Lana Bannerman, was the Red Storm?s lone shot of the first period.
Three minutes into the second half, St. John?s freshman Natasha Lee, who?s quick footed move gave her a one-on-one with the WV keeper, once again used a skillful moved and beat Bannerman, who, from the ground, grabbed Lee?s foot, resulting in a yellow card for the Mountaineers and a penalty kick for the Red Storm. Holly Ryder set up for the pk and hit a shot to the lower right post. WV?s Bannerman guessed right, but Ryder?s shot was too far out of reach, as St. John?s cut the lead to one.
Continuing their attack, St. John?s worked in transition, possessing the ball from the backfield when Ryder chipped the ball over two WV defenders to Kaitlin Schmidt, who stopped the ball and chipped it perfectly over the keeper, tying the game at two with 28 minutes remaining.
Each team had several scoring opportunities, but the Mountaineers would be the ones to capitalize, as Abbott knocked in her second goal of the game to lift West Virginia to the 3-2 win.
Rollings, who split the game with Gabriela Franco, finished with three saves. Franco also finished with three. Ryder and Schmidt each tallied their first goals of the season for St. John?s.
The Red Storm are back in action on Wednesday, September 17 at Fordham.
