St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
4-0-1, 0-0-0
Central Connecticut State
1-3-1, 0-0-0
Levy’s Late Game-Winner Lifts St. John’s Past CCSU, 2-1
9/4/2023 7:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Jordyn Levy launched the winning strike in the 82nd minute
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – A late strike from Jordyn Levy lifted the St. John's women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory at Central Connecticut State on Monday.
The junior forward launched a shot in the top corner of the net in the 82nd minute to move St. John's to a 4-0-1 record on the year.
The Johnnies are undefeated through five matches for the first time since the spring 2021 campaign, when they won five straight to start the year.
Isabelle Aviza notched her first goal of the season, burying a ball early in the second half to give the Red Storm an initial lead.
Lauryn Tran and Jessica Garziano tallied assists on the finish from Aviza. The two midfielders lead the team and rank top-three in the conference in helpers. Garziano ranks tied for first with four and Tran sits in third with three.
Garziano now moves to 26 total assists in her career, sitting one shy of tying Jamie Clark for the program's all-time record. The graduate student led all players on Monday with a game-high four shots.
The Red Storm outshot the Blue Devils, 13-8, on a sunny day in New Britain.
In the opening half, the Johnnies created the first chance as Angelina Scoma put a strike on frame that was handled by CCSU goalkeeper Melina Ford.
In the closing minutes of the first frame, the Johnnies generated a couple of promising chances in the final third. Freshman Juliana Dane fired her first collegiate shot from outside of the 18-yard-box but flew into the hands of Ford. In the 42nd minute, Garziano received a pass from Mia Agresti and put a shot forward that was saved by Ford again. A minute later, Jailene DeJesus had the final opportunity of the opening stanza, but her boot went wide of the bar. The two sides went to the locker room knotted at zero.
After playing most of this season at outside back, Aviza moved forward to start the second half and made a quick impact. Tran burned down the sideline and played a cross that Garziano one touched to a circling Aviza, who buried a rip into the bottom right corner, 1-0.
In the 56th minute, the Blue Devils had a dangerous chance in front as the Blue Devils' Aoife Horgan fired a pair of shots right on the Red Storm doorstep that were steered way. As the ball continued to bounce around the box, a handball was called and CCSU was awarded a penalty. Giavanna Inzirella finished from the spot to level the game, 1-1.
The Red Storm continued to show urgency in the attacking third after conceding its lone goal of the season, as Garizano put one just over the bar in the 68th minute.
In the 82nd minute, Levy took it herself and evaded a CCSU defender as she streaked into the box. The Indiana transfer launched a strike that sailed into the top corner of the net, marking her second game-winning goal on the season.
The Johnnies held strong in the closing minutes on the road and held on for their third consecutive victory.
St. John's will return to Queens for a four-game homestand that starts on Saturday night against Lehigh at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Isabelle Aviza (1)
Assisted By: Lauryn Tran , Jessica Garziano
GOAL by SJU Aviza, Isabelle Assist by Tran, Lauryn and Garziano, Jessica.
49:20
Giavanna Inzerillo (4)
CCSU Giavanna Inzerillo PENALTY KICK GOAL.
57:24
Jordyn Levy (2)
GOAL by SJU Levy, Jordyn.
81:55
