Scoma’s Late-Game Magic Lifts St. John’s Over Creighton in Thriller, 3-2

Thursday, October 5

Omaha, Neb. (Morrison Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

7-4-2, 2-3-0

Creighton

2-7-4, 0-5-0

St. John's (NY)

Creighton

Photo by: Creighton Athletics

Scoma’s Late-Game Magic Lifts St. John’s Over Creighton in Thriller, 3-2

10/5/2023 10:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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Angelina Scoma headed home her first career goal with 2:03 remaining to earn road win

OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 5, 2023) – Angelina Scoma's late game-winning goal lifted the St. John's women's soccer team over Creighton, 3-2, in thrilling fashion on Thursday night.

The graduate student headed her first career goal into the back of the net with just 2:03 remaining off a cross from Lauryn Tran to stun the Bluejays at Morrison Stadium.

Maria O'Sullivan was stellar in Omaha recording a season-high seven saves on the evening. The graduate student faced 20 Creighton shots on the night, with nine on target. The goalkeeper's seven stops sits one shy of her career-high.

St. John's (7-4-2, 2-3 BIG EAST) recorded a pair of goals in the first half to grab a 2-0 lead. Ava Collins netted her first goal of the season in the opening half and Athina Sofroniou tallied her second of the year off a free kick from long-range.

The Johnnies registered three assists on the night. Jailene DeJesus and Isabelle Aviza record assists on Collins' opening goal and Tran's cross led to the game-winner.

In the first 20 minutes, both sides play a possession heavy style of play at Morrison Stadium. Each squad generated shots but no threatening chances.

That all changed when the Red Storm built from the back with quality passing. As the ball got to midfield, Aviza played a through ball to a streaking DeJesus, who struck a cross to a wide open Collins. The New Zealand national capitalized on the one-on-one with the keeper, as the shot bounced of the Bluejays' goalie and rolled into the net in the 22^nd minute.

The Johnnies continued to keep the pressure up and earned a corner kick just two minutes later. Jessica Garziano served the ball in and as meandered around the 18-yard box Frederique St.-Jean headed towards the goalmouth. A Creighton defender got their first but the attempted clearance bounced off Aviza and nearly bounced in, but was picked up by Kylen Terrell.

In the 32^nd minute a foul in the Red Storm attacking half near the sideline led to a free kick. Sofroniou played a long-ball into the box that bounced off a Creighton player and into the goal to give St. John's a 2-0 advantage.

With five minutes to play in the opening half, a handball inside the 18 gave Creighton (2-7-4, 0-5 BIG EAST) a penalty kick opportunity. O' Sullivan made the initial stop, her second penalty save of the season but the rebound was there for the taking as Anja Jestrovic buried it to trim the Johnnies lead, 2-1.

As the second frame got underway, Tran had the first opportunity as a cutback put the Bluejays' defender on skates but the ensuing rip from the junior was off frame.

Creighton found the equalizer as a shot from Abigal Santana was tipped into the crossbar by the outstretched hand of O' Sullivan. The Bluejays' Tilly Thomas headed the rebound home to knot the score, 2-2.

The Bluejays continued to increase the pressure and logged 10 shots over the final 45 minutes. The home side generated quality chances but none more threatening then in the 85^th minute. Andrine Westlie beat a St. John's defender and launched a rocket towards the top corner of the net. O' Sullivan parried the strike away in a magnificent effort to keep the match level.

Struggling to find offensive momentum, one magical run for the Red Storm lifted it over the top in the 88^th minute. The Johnnies moved the ball up the left wing, as Collins found Tran in the attacking third. The speedy winger played a ball into middle of the 18-yard box to Scoma, who steered the header near post into the back of the net to lift the squad to its second-straight BIG EAST win.

The Danville, Calif. native's first career goal came in her 65^th career contest.

Thursday's events mark the second-straight season St. John's has scored in the final minutes to earn a result against Creighton.

On Sunday, the Red Storm will look to keep its momentum going when it hosts Providence for Senior Day. 10 Johnnies will be honored prior the 1 p.m. match at Belson Stadium.