Overview:
The St. John’s University women recorded a wild 4-3 victory over Harvard University at Belson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John’s University women recorded a wild 4-3 victory over Harvard University at Belson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Storm scored three goals 4:55 to regain the lead during the closing stages of the first half to take the lead. Lauryn Tran buried the game-winner in the 62nd minute on a record assist from Jessica Garziano.
Garziano registered a season-high two goals to go-along with her assist. The Melville, N.Y., native recorded five points the most, by a Red Storm player this season and has 16 (five goals and six assists) this season.
The graduate student became the all-time program leader in assists (28), surpassing Jamie Clark, who tallied 27 from 1997-2000.
Tran scored a career-high two goals and had her first game-winner in Sunday’s non-conference victory.
Nicole Gordon matched a career-high with two assists, her most since Oct. 24, 2021. Jailene DeJesus and Angelina Scoma also had assists.
Goalkeeper Maria O’ Sullivan made four saves. Tran and Katherine Turner also recorded vital goal-line clearances.
The four goals were the most St. John’s (5-1-2) has scored since Sept. 2, 2021, when it defeated Lehigh, 4-0.
Harvard (5-2-1) maintained possession in the early going as neither team created any threatening chances in the opening 20 minutes.
The visitors began to turn up the heat as a shot off a corner kick from the Crimson’s Ava Lung nearly went over the goal line but was headed away by Tran in the 26th minute.
The Crimson struck first moments later as Olof Kristinsdottir fired a strike into the bottom corner of the twine on an assist from Taylor Fasnacht.
Harvard continued to press in its attacking third and Kristindottir converted once again blowing one into the Johnnies net to put her side up, 2-0, in the 33rd minute.
St. John’s then roared back as Scoma played a through ball to Gordon, who fired a shot on frame. The senior’s attempt was stopped by keeper Anna Karpenko and fell to the feet of Tran, who sent it past the outstretched leg of a defender and into the middle of the net.
The Red Storm wasted no time as just 1:10 later, Gordon chipped a pass over the Harvard backline and onto the feet of a streaking Garziano, who rocketed the volley for the equalizer.
With 53 seconds remaining in the half, a Crimson handball sent Garziano to the penalty spot. The Long Island product converted her second penalty of the year to complete a comeback in 4:55 that the Red Storm took to the locker room, 3-2.
Just 50 seconds into the second half, St. John’s turned the ball over and Harvard’s Gabby DePico capitalized on an open net to bring the game level once again, 3-3.
In the 62nd minute, the Red Storm regained tje lead as DeJesus played a ball across to Garziano, who found Tran inside the 18-yard box for the game-winner.
Sunday marked the final non-conference contest for the Johnnies. On Thursday, Big East play will commence when the Red Storm hosts No. 10 Georgetown University for the final leg of a four-game homestand.
