St. John’s soccer gets back in the win column with a home victory over Navy.
The St. John’s soccer Team wrapped up a doubleheader sweep for the Red Storm at Belson Stadium on Friday evening, taking down Patriot League favorite-Navy by a 2-0 scoreline.
The men’s program thrashed Lehigh 5-0 to start off the day.
St. John’s opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a potential goal-of-the-season type strike from UConn transfer Melina Couzis with a wonder strike from way outside of the box.
Words can only do some much so here’s a look at the worldie here:
GOAL Melina Couzis!!!! St. John's leads Navy, 1-0.#SJUWSOC pic.twitter.com/NHAJsafU2u
— St. John's WSoccer (@StJohnsWSoccer) September 3, 2022
The Red Storm would go into halftime with a slim 1-0 lead after Navy started to build some momentum in their play and asked one or two questions on some set pieces of the St. John’s defense.
The second half would see much of the same play from the first with the Johnnies controlling the game, creating several opportunities. In the 64th minute, forward Nicole Gordon was clean in on goal after a great sequence, but Navy goalkeeper Mattie Gallagher made a great save diving to her right to keep the visitors in the game at the time.
ALSO READ: St. John’s thrashes Lehigh for first win of season
St. John’s would eventually get the second goal anyway nine minutes later as Gordon drew a foul inside the Navy box and midfielder Michelle Money stepped up to convert the penalty kick and make it a 2-0 St. John’s lead.
The Johnnies outshot Navy, 10-4, with eight shots on goal for the Red Storm to just two for Navy.
Although those two shots on goal produced some fine saves out of Gina Muzi especially this one late in the game to seal her first career shutout and the team’s first in 2022.
BIG SAVE by Muzi!!#SJUWSOC pic.twitter.com/14MEAveofA
— St. John's WSoccer (@StJohnsWSoccer) September 3, 2022
St. John’s soccer takes huge step in right direction
It was a massive step in the right direction for the Johnnies’ defense which has let several leads slip away and has been off to a rocky start in 2022, limiting a quality team like Navy and their opportunities at the goal as well as clinching the shutout.
The victory is the first one for the Red Storm since their season opener against Saint Joseph’s back on August 18, going 0-1-2 since then.
ALSO READ: St. John’s completes winless week in uneven start
St. John’s now moves to a 2-1-2 record on the season and will now face Central Connecticut State on Labor Day at 2:00pm at Belson Stadium as they look to build momentum in these final few non-conference games before Big East play kicks off on September 22 at Georgetown.
The Red Storm last faced Central Connecticut State back in 2016, a 1-0 overtime win for St. John’s in Queens.
St. John’s is undefeated in four meetings all-time against the Blue Devils going back to 2004, looking to continue that streak on Monday.