QUEENS, N.Y. — The Red Storm recently wrapped up its spring campaign, rattling off four wins in a row.
Facing off against collegiate and professional competition, the Red Storm compiled a 4-1-0 mark, with the team scoring three or more goals in three of its four wins and recording shutouts in three of the five matches.

The Johnnies kicked off exhibition action March 25, falling 3-1 to Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. The Red Storm jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the defense forced a turnover and Christina Bellero chipped in a shot from outside the 18-yard box. Bellero’s goal was the first goal scored by a collegiate team against a NWSL opponent at that point in the spring.

On March 31, St. John’s welcomed Division II LIU Post to Belson Stadium. Head coach Ian Stone’s squad dominated, cruising to a 4-0 victory. St. John’s saw four players find the back of the net, as Shea Connors, Bellero, Samie Scaffidi and Claudia Cagnina scored.

The following Saturday afternoon, the Red Storm recorded another victory at Belson as it defeated the University Pennsylvania, 1-0. Connors, who matched Scaffidi for the team lead in goals last season with four, netted the lone goal.

After some time off, the Johnnies resumed play on April 21, welcoming Sacred Heart to Belson. For the second time in three games, four players scored as St. John’s rolled to a 4-0 victory. Bellero connected for her third tally this spring before Scaffidi scored her second. The two remaining goals came from players known for their defensive skills, as Jesse Schaefer and Allie Moar tallied. The game also marked the third consecutive match that the defense kept the opponent scoreless, continuing a trend from the two previous seasons that saw the Red Storm set and match a single-season program record for shutouts with 12 in 2015 and 2016.

The Red Storm closed out its spring season with triumph over local rival Fordham University. Cagnina, Scaffidi and Connors did the scoring for the Johnnies in a 3-1 win.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.