St. John's University Athletics
St. John's to Play Seven Exhibition Matches This Spring
2/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
2016 Spring Schedule (PDF)
QUEENS, N.Y. - Looking to carry over momentum from the team's run to the NCAA Tournament this past fall, the St. John's Women's Soccer team will play a seven-game slate in the spring, including four matches on Belson Stadium.
"Our staff is looking forward to giving a number of more inexperienced players the opportunity to start and play more minutes this spring," said Head Coach Ian Stone, who will begin his 23rd season on the sideline at St. John's in the fall. "We are excited to see a lot of improvement and these spring games will provide great environments to test this development."
For the second-straight year, the Red Storm will kick off the spring season against Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League, one of the premier women's leagues in the entire world. Sky Blue, which compiled a record of 5-8-7 in 20 NWSL matches last season, sports a star-studded roster of both international and former collegiate standouts. Most notably, United States Women's National Team mainstays Kelley O'Hara and Christie Rampone play for Sky Blue, as does 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy Winner Raquel Rodriguez.
St. John's will square off with Sky Blue on March 20 at 2 p.m. in Scotch Plains, N.J. at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.
Following their match with Sky Blue, the Johnnies will kick off a stretch of four-straight home games on April 1, kicking off against Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m. on Belson Stadium. Last season, the Pioneers registered a record 4-13, including a 1-7 mark in NEC play.
Next up for the Red Storm will be another Friday night affair at Belson Stadium, as St. John's plays host to local foe Manhattan on April 8 at 7: 30 p.m. In 2015, the Jaspers turned in one of the finest seasons in program history, compiling a record of 11-5-3 and advancing to the championship game of the MAAC Tournament for the first time in the 25-year history of the program.
Two days later on April 10, the St. John's Women's Soccer program will welcome the Johnnies of yesteryear back to Belson Stadium for its annual alumnae game. That contest is set to kick off at 1 p.m.
The Red Storm will conclude the home portion of its spring schedule the following weekend, welcoming Siena to Belson Stadium for a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday, April 17. Last season, the Saints got hot at just the right time, rattling off three-straight wins to clinch the final spot in the MAAC Tournament before recording three more victories to claim the conference championship and secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history.
St. John's will conclude its spring schedule with a Garden State doubleheader on Saturday, April 23 at Princeton. The evening will begin with a contest against the host Tigers at 5 p.m. before concluding with a 7 p.m. match against Fairleigh Dickinson. Both Princeton and FDU earned spots in the NCAA Tournament last season, as the Tigers went 6-0-1 in conference play to claim the Ivy League title and the Knights took home the NEC Tournament crown.
