St. John’s Sinks Villanova, 2-0

Sunday, October 1

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

6-4-2, 1-3-0

Villanova

4-2-5, 1-2-0

Villanova

St. John's (NY)

10/1/2023 4:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Video Highlights

Tran and DeJesus tallied goals at Belson Stadium

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's women's soccer team tallied a 2-0 win over Villanova on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Belson Stadium.

The Red Storm recorded its fifth shutout of the season and first in BIG EAST play behind an impressive defensive effort.

A pair of junior midfielders Jailene DeJesus and Lauryn Tran provided the scoring in Sunday's win.

Jessica Garziano tallied her league-leading seventh assist of the year on DeJesus' opening goal. Angelina Scoma and Ava Collins logged helpers on Tran's fourth goal of the year in the second half.

The Johnnies became the first team this season to score more than one goal against the stifling Wildcats defense.

The Red Storm outshot the visitors, 9-2 and didn't allow a single shot on target during Maria O' Sullivan's fifth clean sheet of the season.

In the 12th minute, St. John's (6-4-2, 1-3 BIG EAST) began to control possession and had a glaring chance as Athina Sofroniou took her space and then launched a rocket on frame but a diving save from Payton Woodward kept the score level in the early going.

The home side continued to have its way and create opportunities in the attacking third, Ava Collins blasted one over the bar after distribution from Molly McGlame and Nicole Gordon in the 28th minute.

As the Red Storm continued to turn up the heat, Garziano played a ball over the top that fell to DeJesus, the junior beat two Wildcats defenders to the ball and steered a shot in the bottom right corner to put the Johnnies in front in the 36th minute, 1-0.

Just two minutes into the second half, the Red Storm looked to extend its advantage as DeJesus played Gordon through and gave the striker a one-on-one with the goaltender.

In the 70th minute, Collins played a short back pass to Scoma who played a crisp long-ball to Tran on the wing. The speedy midfielder flew to the ball and buried it past Woodward for her third goal in the last five contests. Tran ranks second on the team with four goals and four assists (12 points) on the year.

Villanova went on the offensive and played a dangerous cross that O' Sullivan came off her line to clear the ball away in the 82nd minute to keep the shutout intact.

The Johnnies will look to carry their momentum into Thursday's meeting Creighton in Omaha. Action will kick-off from Morrison Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports.