Kajan’s Hat Trick Lifts St. John's Past Creighton, 3-0

Sunday, October 24

Omaha, Neb. (Morrison Stadium)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

9-5-2, 5-3-1

Creighton University

7-9-2, 1-7-1

St. John's (NY)

Creighton

Kajan’s Hat Trick Lifts St. John's Past Creighton, 3-0

10/24/2021 8:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Red Storm clinches spot in BIG EAST Tournament

Following a four-hour rain delay, the St. John's women's soccer team stormed the field at Creighton, as Zsani Kajan scored her second hat trick of the season and the fourth of her Red Storm career to lift St. John's to a 3-0 victory over the Bluejays.

With the shutout victory against Creighton, the Red Storm has officially clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. Additionally, with the win over the Bluejays, Head Coach Ian Stone, captured his 100th BIG EAST victory.

With a trio of goals on the night, Kajan has now found the back of the net 15 times for the Red Storm on the campaign to tie Adriana Viola for the fourth-most in a single season. The Budapest, Hungary, native has bumped her career total up to 43 goals, taking over sole possession of second place on the program's all-time scoring list.

Nicole Gordon and Isabelle Aviza both picked up assists on the night for St. John's.

Naya Lipkens stopped the Bluejays lone attempt on goal of the evening to record her third-straight shutout and her eighth clean sheet of the season. The Bloomfield, Conn., native lowered her goals against average to 0.92.

St. John's (9-5-2, 5-3-1 BIG EAST) outshot Creighton (7-9-2, 1-7-1 BIG EAST) by a 12-5 margin including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal. The Red Storm also earned three corner kicks to the Bluejays' one.

The Johnnies wasted no time jumping out on top, as Kajan netted her first goal of the night in the fifth minute of action. The sequence began as Gordon sent a beautiful pass through a pair of Creighton defenders to Kajan. The 5-foot-7 forward collected the ball and sent it to the right corner of the cage to give the Johnnies an early lead. The assist marked Gordon's seventh of the year to tie Jessica Garziano for the most on the team.

Twelve minutes later, the BIG EAST's leading scorer struck again. This time Kajan rocketed a shot to the center of the cage to complete the brace and send the Johnnies into the half with a two-goal advantage.

Leading 2-0 at the intermission, St. John's extended its lead in the 78th minute, as Aviza found Kajan just inside the 18-yard box. The Johnnies' lethal scorer planted a left-footed strike over the head of Creighton's keeper, Keelan Terrell, to complete the hat trick and seal the victory for St. John's.

The Red Storm returns to action on Thursday evening, welcoming the Villanova Wildcats to Belson Stadium for its final game of the regular season.