St. John's University Athletics
Thursday, August 27
Baltimore, Md. (Retriever Soccer Park)
7 p.m.
St. John's University
at
UMBC
Photo by: Meg Kelly
St. John’s to Travel to UMBC for Thursday Night Contest
8/26/2026 11:50:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Red Storm and Retrievers will meet for the first time in nearly three decades
QUEENS, N.Y. – After a 1-0-1 week, the St. John's women's soccer team will return to action for a road trip to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) on Thursday night.
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Retriever Soccer Park in Baltimore, Md. Fans can tune into the contest on ESPN+.
St. John's (1-2-1) earned its first clean sheet of the 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Columbia on Sunday afternoon. The Red Storm held a 7-6 advantage in shots and controlled much of the opening half, outshooting the Lions, 5-2.
Graduate student goalkeeper Kayla Bower anchored the Red Storm defensively, making three saves to secure the shutout. Bower has registered at least three stops in each of St. John's first four matches this season and came up with a diving save in the closing minutes to preserve the scoreless result. Julianna Bivona also delivered a strong defensive effort with a pair of crucial stops on Columbia breakaways late in the match.
Offensively, Nora Basile and Juliana Dane paced the Johnnies with two shots apiece. Basile generated one of the match's best opportunities with a first-half strike that forced a diving save, while Dane put one of her two attempts on target for her first multi-shot performance since Aug. 22, 2024. Sia Bharadwaj, Erin Palmeri and Janelle Sylvestre helped provide an attacking spark in the second half as St. John's secured the road result.
Following the unbeaten week, defeating Towson 2-1 on Senior Day and the tie with Columbia, Bower and Telma Steindórsdóttir were named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. Steindórsdóttir played all 180 minutes, scoring against Towson before helping the Red Storm secure a shutout at Columbia. Bower allowed just one goal and made six saves across the two matches, posting a 0.50 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage. The Lincoln Park, N.J., native also finished the week leading the BIG EAST in total saves (13) and saves per game (4.33).
St. John's and UMBC will face off for just the fourth time and the first in nearly three decades. The Retrievers hold a slight 2-1-0 advantage all-time against the Red Storm. The two teams last met on Oct. 6, 1997, in Baltimore, Md., when UMBC came out with the 4-1 victory over the Johnnies.
The Retrievers are coming off a 6-8-4 campaign in 2025 and finished eighth in the America East standings. Chosen eighth out of nine in the Preseason Poll, UMBC welcomes seven newcomers for the 2026 season, in addition to 22 returners, including 2025 America East All-Rookie Team selection Zoe Brossman.
UMBC is off to an unbeaten start to the 2026 campaign, posting three victories and one draw through its first four matches. Last week, the Retrievers outlasted Fairmont State, 5-3, before battling West Chester to a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Following Thursday's contest, the Red Storm will close out a three-game road trip at Monmouth with a 2 p.m. contest at Hesse Field on Sept. 3.
Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Retriever Soccer Park in Baltimore, Md. Fans can tune into the contest on ESPN+.
St. John's (1-2-1) earned its first clean sheet of the 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Columbia on Sunday afternoon. The Red Storm held a 7-6 advantage in shots and controlled much of the opening half, outshooting the Lions, 5-2.
Graduate student goalkeeper Kayla Bower anchored the Red Storm defensively, making three saves to secure the shutout. Bower has registered at least three stops in each of St. John's first four matches this season and came up with a diving save in the closing minutes to preserve the scoreless result. Julianna Bivona also delivered a strong defensive effort with a pair of crucial stops on Columbia breakaways late in the match.
Offensively, Nora Basile and Juliana Dane paced the Johnnies with two shots apiece. Basile generated one of the match's best opportunities with a first-half strike that forced a diving save, while Dane put one of her two attempts on target for her first multi-shot performance since Aug. 22, 2024. Sia Bharadwaj, Erin Palmeri and Janelle Sylvestre helped provide an attacking spark in the second half as St. John's secured the road result.
Following the unbeaten week, defeating Towson 2-1 on Senior Day and the tie with Columbia, Bower and Telma Steindórsdóttir were named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. Steindórsdóttir played all 180 minutes, scoring against Towson before helping the Red Storm secure a shutout at Columbia. Bower allowed just one goal and made six saves across the two matches, posting a 0.50 goals-against average and an .857 save percentage. The Lincoln Park, N.J., native also finished the week leading the BIG EAST in total saves (13) and saves per game (4.33).
St. John's and UMBC will face off for just the fourth time and the first in nearly three decades. The Retrievers hold a slight 2-1-0 advantage all-time against the Red Storm. The two teams last met on Oct. 6, 1997, in Baltimore, Md., when UMBC came out with the 4-1 victory over the Johnnies.
The Retrievers are coming off a 6-8-4 campaign in 2025 and finished eighth in the America East standings. Chosen eighth out of nine in the Preseason Poll, UMBC welcomes seven newcomers for the 2026 season, in addition to 22 returners, including 2025 America East All-Rookie Team selection Zoe Brossman.
UMBC is off to an unbeaten start to the 2026 campaign, posting three victories and one draw through its first four matches. Last week, the Retrievers outlasted Fairmont State, 5-3, before battling West Chester to a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Following Thursday's contest, the Red Storm will close out a three-game road trip at Monmouth with a 2 p.m. contest at Hesse Field on Sept. 3.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerThursday, August 20
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