QUEENS, N.Y. – Fresh off a 6-1 victory to kick off their 2021 slate, the St. John’s University women will host Sacred Heart University at Belson Stadium Thursday at 3 p.m.
The game will be produced live by SJU-TV and can be viewed on ESPN3, available on the ESPN.com/watch and ESPN app. Ralph Bednarczyk will have the call.
In its most recent outing against the University at Albany, St. John’s poured in six goals. The Red Storm’s six scores were the most ever by St. John’s in a season opener and the program’s highest single-game total since scoring nine times at Robert Morris on Sept. 3, 2000.
After anchoring the Red Storm to its first win of the season, rookie midfielder Ava Collins was named the Big East freshman of the week Monday. Collins burst onto the stage for the Red Storm on Sunday afternoon, tallying a goal and two assists for a team-high four points in her first collegiate appearance.
Six dJohnnies found the back of the net in the team’s home opener. Jessica Garziano, who earned a spot on the Big East weekly honor roll Monday, sparked the scoring with a goal in the 19th minute. Maia Cabrera extended the Johnnies’ lead in the 37th minute. With four minutes remaining in the half, Brooke Boyd buried it home to give the Johnnies a 3-0 lead at the intermission. Coming out of the locker room the trio of Addison Hornsey, Zsani Kajan and Collins all found the back of the net for St. John’s.
Sacred Heart comes to Queens following a 0-0 draw at Fordham University Feb. 10. The Pioneers were picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll after clinching a playoff berth in the 2019 NEC Tournament a season ago. Sacred Heart wrapped up the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 9-8-2, including a 6-4-1 mark in league action.
The Pioneers return four All-NEC selections from a season ago, including 2019-20 NEC Rookie of the Year, All-NEC First Team, and All-NEC Rookie Team member Michelle Clarkin. Over the 2019 season, Clarkin tallied seven goals and 17 points. Sacred Heart also returns two All-NEC Second Team members in Azria Malloy and Meadow Mancini, as well as All-NEC Rookie Team selection Nichol Green.
St. John’s and Sacred Heart will meet for the fourth time in the history of the two programs, with the Johnnies leading the series, 3-0-0. The two teams last met on August 27, 2018 as the Johnnies dominated the Pioneers, 3-0, at Belson Stadium.
Following Thursday’s matchup with Sacred Heart, the Red Storm will continue its four-game homestand, welcoming the University of Massachusetts to Belson Stadium on Feb. 28 for a 3 p.m. matchup.
