St. John’s Rolls into Regular Season Following Back-to-Back Preseason Victories

Monday, August 9

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

Rider (EXHIBITION)

St. John’s Rolls into Regular Season Following Back-to-Back Preseason Victories

8/14/2021 7:43:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Garziano, Gordon and Rupnow all score in preseason action

The St. John's women's soccer team completed their preseason exhibition games on Friday evening, defeating Army West Point, 3-2, to finish 2-0 during early season action.

Three different Johnnies found the back of the net en route to the Red Storm's win over the Black Knights. Jessica Garziano, the Red Storm's leading scorer from the 2021 spring season, scored first on an unassisted attempt in the 29th minute. Freshman Jadyn Rupnow and sophomore Nicole Gordon both converted on a goal for the second time this preseason as Rupnow broke through in the 70th minute and Gordon in the 89th, off an assist from Isabelle Aviza.

On Aug. 9, the Red Storm kicked off exhibition action with a 2-1 victory over Rider at Belson Stadium, as the two squads played three 30-minute periods. The Johnnies controlled the offense in the early stanza, boasting a 6-3 advantage on shots, including a 3-0 edge in attempts on goal following the first 30 minutes of play.

After 42 minutes of scoreless action for both programs, the Red Storm got on the board first off a goal from Gordon. Aviza, a native of Medway, Mass., assisted on the tally.

Halfway through the third period, St. John's added to its lead. Rupnow, the freshman from Oconomowoc, Wis., rocketed a shot from just outside the 18-yard box past Rider's goalkeeper to put the Johnnies up, 2-0.

The Broncs would not go down quietly, scoring in the 82nd minute to make it a one-goal game.

With under five minutes to play in the match, the Johnnies saw one final attempt on goal, as Gordon launched a missile towards the top of the cage. The Amityville, N.Y., native's shot was deflected by Rider's keeper, as the score remained, 2-1, in favor of the Johnnies.

St. John's will play its first game of the regular season in five days, as the team is set to kick off the 2021 fall campaign on Aug. 19 against NJIT at Belson Stadium.