The St. John’s women’s soccer team went into The Hoosier Classic looking to improve on its 6-0 record, but ended the weekend with its first loss after falling to Ohio State 1-0.
The loss snapped a lot for the Red Storm (6-1): a six-game winning streak, goalkeeper Diana Poulin’s five-game shutout streak and Rachel Daly’s
five-game goal scoring streak.
“I learned a lot and so did the team today,” St. John’s head coach Ian Stone said over the phone. “Rachel is the leading goal scorer in the nation and defenses are taking notice of that. We can’t just rely on her, other people have to step up and we have to put more balls on goal than we did today.”
The Johnnies were also scheduled to play Indiana at the tournament, but
travel complications only allowed them to play the Buckeyes.
“It really should have been an advantage for the team,” Stone said. “Ohio State played on Friday and we didn’t. It wasn’t ideal preparation for us with all of the flight delays but we have to overcome adversity like that better”.
The Buckeyes got on the board in the 22nd minute after Nichelle Prince found the back of the net. Michela Paradiso was awarded the assist.
Daly was booked soon after the Ohio State goal, receiving a yellow card in the24th minute.
It was the Englishwoman’s first yellow card of the season.
“Rachel was frustrated,” Stone said. “The Ohio State defense was doing a good job on her, but she was being fouled as well and she was letting the referees know that.”
The Johnnies couldn’t get much going on the offensive side of the ball
– recording only one shot on goal and no corners in the first half. The quick hitting offensive tempo that the Red Storm have been showing all season was nowhere to be found.
The second half of the game was much like the first. Both teams’ defenses handled each other’s offense with consumate ease.
The Johnnies had a barrage of shots in the last five minutes of the game, but failed to find an equalizer. The Red Storm’s best chance to score came on a header from Amy Marron, but the keeper saved easily.
“This was a good learning experience for us, we played a lot better in the second half,” Stone said. “Ohio State was the mentally tougher team
today.”
St. John’s will take to the field again Friday when Dartmouth travels to Queens for a night on the Belson Stadium turf.
“Dartmouth could have been a NCAA tournament team last season,” Stone said. “They are going to be a good test before going into Big East play week.”
