St John’s University takes down Harvard University

The match-up between Harvard University and St. John’s University is a fairly new rivalry, the two sides have met twice prior with the first match ending in a 1-0 defeat in double overtime during the Central Connecticut State University tournament in 2017, the next match up was at Harvard in 2021 where Harvard won 3-2 in OT at Jordan Field. This time around the sides will meet at Belson Stadium on the St John’s University campus in Jamaica, Queens. Like the previous two matches, it should be a hard-fought close game. Hopefully, home soil will be the difference in the scoreline for St. John’s. This is St John’s final non-conference match before Big East play starts on September 21 against rival Georgetown at Belson Stadium.

Ava Collins will not be available for the Johnnies after picking up an injury earlier in the month. She will hopefully be back in action for the game against Big East rival Georgetown. St John’s overall is 4 – 1 – 2 on the season with a .714 win %. Home 2 – 1 – 1, Away 2 – 0 – 1, Conference play 0 – 0 – 0. Their previous results are as follows: 8/17 vs. FDU 3 – 0 W, 8/20 @ Navy 0 – 0 D, 8/27 @ Colgate 3 – 0 W, 8/31 vs. Penn 1 – 0 W, 9/4 @ Central Connecticut State 2 – 1 W, 9/9 vs. Leigh 2 – 4 L, and 9/14 vs. Yale 2 – 2 D.

We asked coach Stone about finally getting the victory over Harvard and what it meant to him & the program? “A kind of was a little bit of a kind of coming together of a bunch of potential that we knew we had. And obviously, that’s a phenomenal team that we’ve just competed against. So it means a lot in terms of this particular result. And I think it means a lot for us potentially. Now, for the rest of the season getting into TOO BIG EAST play.” — Ian Stone Head Coach SJU

The first half was action-packed and saw both teams fighting to gain any advantage they could to start the game. Harvard would catch the first break of the match just 20′ in when goalkeeper Anna Karpenko was caught in no man’s land 25 yards from her goal. She clearly committed a handling offense well outside of the box, not sure how the center referee who was less than 2 feet away missed it while staring right at it. The rest of New York saw it and let the referee know they saw it.

The center when the ball went out of play shortly after had a puzzled look, almost like he knew he messed up and didn’t know what to do besides look around. Minutes later, Harvard would open the scoring floodgates with a goal by freshman Olof Kristinsdottir her fourth goal on the season going lower corner first post. The goal was assisted by Taylor Fasnacht for Harvard.

Then in the 33′ Olof would find the same spot again and pick up the brace and her fifth goal of the season, the goal was assisted by Josefine Hasbo. Olof has now scored 5 goals in 5 starts for the Crimson on the season. She is a native of Reykjavik, Iceland the same city where NWSL Gotham FC’s striker Svava Guomunsdottir hails from as well.

Harvard would keep the two-goal lead for just shy of 8′ when St. John’s junior Lauryn Tran found the back of the net in the 40′ off an assist from Nicole Gordon. The goal was Tran’s second of the season for St Johns.

They would tie the match up in the 41′ when graduate student Jessica Garziano buried one inside the first post to tie the match up. It was her fourth goal of the season and she is showing no signs of slowing down.

St. Johns would continue their attack and get rewarded in the final seconds of the 45′ when the bench side assistant referee called a foul for a penalty kick with 45.7 seconds left on the clock. Jessica Garziano stepped up and placed the ball just inside the upper 90 of the second post to give the Johnnies their first lead of the match. The goal is her 5th on the young season, and she now also has a brace along with Harvard’s Olof Kristinsdottir. Will we see one of these young stars get the Hat Trick today? The half would end with St. John’s holding a 3 – 2 lead.

Photo Credit: St. John’s W Soccer

We asked Jessica about setting the all-time assist record at St. John’s University?

“It means a lot. I think I couldn’t really get any of that done without my teammates. I mean, I’m not the one scoring everyone else’s. So I have to shout out my teammates for that. ” — Jessica Garziano Gr. Midfielder

Harvard didn’t take long to equalize the match when senior Gabby Delpico (4) of the season was unassisted inside the lower corner of the first post. The goal was scored ten seconds into the second half. St. John’s would respond in the 62′ when Lauren Tran (3) would pick up the brace going lower second post off an assist from Jessica Garziano and Jailene DeJesus. The assist from Jessica was her 27th career assist and moved her into the all-time leader slot for St. John’s University.

St. John’s secures the victory!!! They end the non-conference period of the season 5 – 1 – 2, their next opponent is the Hoyas of Georgetown University on Thursday, 7 p.m. at Belson Stadium.

Photo Credit: Bad Dawg Sports