St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Concludes Successful Spring Season
5/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
QUEENS, N.Y. - Coming off a 2016 campaign that saw the St. John's women's soccer team finish with double-digit wins for the fourth-straight season, the Red Storm wrapped up its 2017 spring campaign, rattling off four wins in a row to close out a successful exhibition season.
Facing off against both collegiate and professional competition, the Red Storm compiled a record of 4-1-0, with the team scoring three or more goals in three of the four wins and recording shutouts in three of the five matches overall.
The Johnnies kicked off exhibition action on March 25, falling 3-1 to Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League, arguably the world's most prestigious professional women's league. In that contest, the Red Storm jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the defense forced a turnover and Christina Bellero chipped in a shot from outside the 18-yard box. Bellero's marker was the first goal scored by a collegiate team against a NWSL opponent at that point in the spring.
Next, the Red Storm took the field on Friday, March 31, welcoming Division II LIU Post to Belson Stadium for a 7 p.m. kick-off. Ian Stone's squad dominated throughout the match, as the Johnnies cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Pioneers. St. John's saw four different players find the back of the net, as Shea Connors, Bellero, Samie Scaffidi and Claudia Cagnina all scored in the victory.
The following Saturday afternoon, the Red Storm recorded another victory inside the friendly confines of Belson Stadium, as the Johnnies defeated Pennsylvania, 1-0. Connors, who matched Scaffidi for the team lead in goals last season with four, netted the lone goal for the Red Storm.
After some time off, the Johnnies resumed play on April 21, welcoming Sacred Heart to Belson Stadium. For the second time in three games, four different players scored goals as St. John's rolled to a 4-0 victory over the Pioneers. Bellero began the scoring with her third tally of the spring before Scaffidi scored her second. The two remaining goals came from players who are known for their defensive skills, as Jesse Schaefer and Allie Moar capped the scoring. The game also marked the third-straight contest that the defense kept the opponent scoreless, continuing a trend from the two previous seasons that saw the Red Storm set and match a single-season program record for shutouts with 12 in 2015 and 2016.
The Red Storm closed out its spring season with victory over local rival Fordham. Cagnina, Scaffidi and Connors did the scoring for the Johnnies in a 3-1 triumph over the Rams.
