Syracuse University
St. John's
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Syracuse Shuts Out St. John's, 2-0
10/6/2003 7:44:22 PM | Women's Soccer
JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The Syracuse women’s soccer team (8-3-0, 2-0-0 BIG EAST ) defeated Northeast Division rival St. John’s, 2-0 at Belson Stadium on Monday. The victory improves the Orangewomen’s conference record to 2-0. It is the first time in program history that Syracuse has won its first two division matches since the BIG EAST adopted the two division format in 1999.
“It was a big win for us,” head coach April Kater said. “We rebounded really well from a tough loss to Rutgers Friday night to win an important division game and it gives us some momentum heading into our game with Boston College.”
Senior captain Anne-Marie Lapalme gave the Orangewomen a quick 1-0 lead 31 seconds into the contest. Syracuse stole the opening kickoff and pushed the ball forward into the box. St. John’s (5-7-1, 1-2-0 BIG EAST) gained control of the ball and tried to clear it, but the clearing attempt deflected of a Red Storm defender to Lapalme, who found the back of the net. The tally was Lapalme’s third of the season, with all three coming in SU’s last four contests. The Orangewomen kept up the offensive pressure in the first half outshooting the Red Storm, 12-2, including a blast by senior Nina Scalzo that hit the crossbar.
In the 58th minute, junior Natalie Galas found Stephanie Sybert streaking down the left side of the field. Sybert carried the ball through the St. John’s defense to the endline, before turning towards the goal and beating Red Storm keeper Gabriela Franco with a shot inside the near post to seal the victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Kowalczyk made four saves to earn her third shutout of the season and the fourth of her career. Kowalczyk’s four blankings ties her with Jeanine King (1998-2000) for the fifth most all-time at SU.
Franco made seven saves in the contest, while Holly Ryder paced St. John’s offense with three shots.
The Orangewomen return to action Friday, Oct. 10 when they host No. 20 Boston College in a Northeast Division match.
