St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Heads to Nike Portland Invitational
9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Washington Game Watch Link
Portland Game Watch Link
Washington Game Live Stats
Portland Game Live Stats
Game Notes (PDF)
2016 Women's Soccer Record Book (PDF)
PORTLAND, Ore. - Looking to extend its six-game unbeaten streak to start the season, the St. John's Red Storm will head to the Pacific Northwest for the Nike Portland Invitational this weekend, squaring off against some of the toughest competition the squad will see this season. The Red Storm kicks off play with a 7:30 p.m. ET match against Washington on Friday before playing the host-school Portland on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
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The Red Storm had its most productive offensive outing in over three years on Sunday evening against Fairfield, as five different players registered goals in a 5-1 victory over the Stags. Prior to Sunday, the last time the Johnnies had recorded five tallies in a single game was on Sept. 1, 2013, when the Red Storm blanked North Dakota State, 5-0. All five members of the Red Storm who found the back of the net against Fairfield did so for the first time this season, bumping the total numbers of players who have scored this year to 10. During 2015's BIG EAST Regular Season title campaign, only nine different Johnnies found their way onto the scoresheet over the course of 20 games.
Two-time reigning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Diana Poulin has proven why she ranks among the nation's best this season, compiling a record of 4-0-2 through six games and surrendering only one goal over that span. The Hauppauge, N.Y., native currently ranks second in the NCAA with four shutouts and was en route to her fifth clean sheet before leaving the Fairfield game in the 74th minute. Her 0.16 goals against average is good enough for 10th in the nation, while her .909 save percentage ranks inside the top 25.
After registering one goal and three assists in two games last weekend, Shea Connors was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the first time in her career on Monday. A 2014 BIG EAST All-Rookie selection, Connors registered her first points of the season by assisting on both of the Red Storm goals against Yale in her hometown of New Haven, Conn. Two days later Connors put the Red Storm on the board with her first goal since October of 2014 and added another helper on Morgan Tinari's eventual game-winner.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON AND PORTLAND
Both Washington and Portland enter the Invitational with winning percentages north of .500, as the Huskies are 4-1-0 through five games, while the Pilots are 2-1-2 in as many tilts.
Washington is just two spots outside the top 25 in this week's NSCAA Coaches Poll, garnering 46 votes. Coincidently, the Huskies' lone loss of 2016 came at the hands of Portland in both teams' season opener on Aug. 19.
Junior Shannon Simon leads the Huskies with three goals on the season, while five of her teammates have tallied one goal apiece.
Junior forward Hannah Griffiths Boston has proven to be the Pilots' most prolific scorer in the early going, tallying five goals on just eight total shots. Senior midfielder Allison Wetherington ranks second on the team in points with two goals and two assists, while freshman Natalie Muth has added a pair of goals for the Pilots.
Both Washington and Portland sport goals against averages under one, as the Huskies carry a GAA of 0.60 while the Pilots boast a 0.73 mark.
ST. JOHN'S VS. WASHINGTON AND PORTLAND -- THE SERIES
This weekend will mark the first time that the Red Storm has ever squared off against either Washington or Portland.
