St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Rider
St. John's Women's Soccer Blanks Rider, 2-0
9/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2005
Queens, NY - Holly Ryder scored a goal and recorded an assist on another to lead the St. John's women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Rider Tuesday night at Belson Stadium. Natasha Lee also tallied a goal for the Red Storm, which improved to 4-4-1 on the season.
"I was very happy with several individual performances tonight," head coach Ian Stone said. "I am pleased with the win, the shutout and the two goals, and I also know we need to continue to improve for Friday and Sunday's conference games."
After four Rider shots and three offsides calls against St. John's early in the half, the Red Storm found some momentum and got its first shot off in the 28th minute. Natasha Lee gathered a pass from Lauren McGrory and fired a hard shot near post that was saved by diving Rider goalkeeper Kim Carter.
On the ensuing corner kick, Erin Henderson lofted the ball into the box and it was headed on goal by Ryder, but again Carter was able to come up with a diving save.
Ryder got a second chance five minutes later on an almost identical play. The corner kick was taken by Henderson and headed into the left side of the goal by Ryder to give St. John's a 1-0 lead.
For Ryder, it was her team-high third goal of the season (second game-winning) and 13th of her career. Henderson's assist was her first of the year (10th of her career).
Still leading 1-0 in the second half, St. John's got help from freshman goalkeeper Rebecca Capinera, who stopped two close-range shots in the 53rd minute to preserve the Red Storm's lead.
Natasha Lee came up with the insurance goal in the 57th minute, gathering a through ball from Ryder and beating Broncs' keeper Carter to her left. It was Lee's second goal of the season (15th of her career).
Capinera preserved the shutout with her fourth save in the 72nd minute, punching the ball over the net on a Rider direct kick that followed a St. John's foul.
It was St. John's third shutout of the season.
The Red Storm was out-shot, 14-9, but were able to capitalize on its opportunities to come away with the victory. Ryder was especially active for St. John's, connecting passes in the midfield and finishing with four shots, a goal and a helper. Lee also had four shots, while Henderson recorded one in addition to her assist.
St. John's returns to Belson Stadium Friday night with a BIG EAST matchup against Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Following that match, the Red Storm travel to West Virginia for a 1 p.m. Sunday game.
