St. John's University Athletics
St. John's to Open Season against CCSU on Friday
8/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Watch on RedStormSports.com
Game Notes (PDF)
QUEENS, N.Y. - Looking to build upon the momentum of a 2015 campaign that saw the Red Storm take home the first BIG EAST Regular Season Title in program history and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons, St. John's will open up the 2016 season on Friday night, playing host to the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University at 5 p.m. on Belson Stadium.
The game will be broadcast live on www.RedStormSports.com with Ralph Bednarczyk and Sal Rosamilla on the call.
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The two-time reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, Diana Poulin will have the opportunity to etch her name even more prominently in the St. John's record book as she starts her senior year, needing just one more victory to take over first place on the St. John's all-time wins list. With 32 wins over the first three years of her standout career, Poulin is currently tied for the top spot in category with Kristin Russell, who notched 32 victories from 2008-11.
The BIG EAST released its preseason accolades last week and the Red Storm was well-represented, as three members of Coach Ian Stone's squad were honored with the designation of Preseason All-BIG EAST. Poulin led the way for the Red Storm, as the league's coaches unanimously selected the Hauppauge, N.Y., native as the conference's Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Joining the two-time reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year on the preseason all-conference team is a pair of super sophomores, Anna Maria Baldursdottir and Lucy Whipp. Last season, Baldursdottir started 19 of the Red Storm's 20 games, playing a critical role on a Red Storm backline that anchored a program-record 12 shutouts en route to a BIG EAST All-Rookie Selection. Whipp, also an All-Rookie pick in 2015, ranked third on the team last season in points with eight, scoring two goals and registering four assists during a rookie campaign that saw her make 19 starts.
SCOUTING CCSU
The Blue Devils enter the 2016 campaign with high expectations after being selected to finish second in the NEC Preseason Poll , trailing only 2015 conference champion Fairleigh Dickinson in the voting.
CCSU graduated three of its four most productive offensive players from last season, but returns a talented group of youngsters anchored by sophomore forward Emma Hubbard. The Melbourne, Australia, native tallied four goals and two assists last season for 10 points, good enough for second on the squad.
The Blue Devils return both of their goalkeepers that saw significant time last season, senior Nicki Turley and sophomore Ashley Cavanaugh. Combined, the pair compiled a 0.82 goals against average and an .862 save percentage. Turley started 13 of the team's 17 contests, while Cavanaugh got the nod in the remaining four tilts.
ST. JOHN'S VS. CCSU -- THE SERIES
St. John's and Central Connecticut will meet for the fifth time in program history on Friday night, with the series history heavily favoring the Red Storm.
The Johnnies have come away with victories in each of the previous four contests between the schools, most recently in August of 2014 when Shea Connors and Rachel Daly scored in a 2-0 win for the Red Storm. The Red Storm also enjoyed a lopsided triumph in 2013, as then-freshman Morgan Tinari registered a goal and her first collegiate assist in a 4-0 win over the Blue Devils on Sept. 6.
Dating back to the start of the series in 2003, the Red Storm has outscored CCSU by an 11-3 margin.
