Madison Mariani and Leana Ruiz score within 15 minutes as Red Storm extends home opener winning streak to six
Queens, NY- St. John’s women’s soccer team opened their home campaign in explosive fashion Sunday afternoon, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes before holding off a determined Youngstown State comeback to win 2-1 at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium. The victory extended the Red Storm’s remarkable home opener winning streak to six consecutive years.
Madison Mariani continued her hot start to the season with her second goal in as many games, striking just 84 seconds into the match.
Leana Ruiz added her first collegiate goal in the 16th minute to give St. John’s a commanding early lead before the Penguins mounted a second-half rally. The goal would eventually end up being the game winner for the Johnnies.
Lightning Start Sets the Tone
The Red Storm wasted no time asserting its dominance in front of 551 fans. Mariani capitalized on a defensive miscue by Youngstown State, collecting a misfired pass and showing excellent composure to round the goalkeeper before slotting home into an empty net.
The early goal energized the home crowd and set the tone for what would become a dominant first-half display. St. John’s pressed high and forced numerous turnovers, creating chance after chance in the opening 20 minutes.
“It meant a lot, you know, seeing the open goal there and it meant a lot just working hard to get here and finally finishing a goal.” — Freshman Leana Ruiz Forward St. John’s University
The second goal came from another Youngstown State mistake. After the Johnnies intercepted an errant pass, Mia Agresti threaded a perfect ball into the penalty area for Ruiz. The freshman showed great poise in her first collegiate start, firing past goalkeeper Maya Naimoli to double the lead at 2-0.
Bower Matches Career Best Again
Senior goalkeeper Kayla Bower continued her exceptional early-season form, matching her career-high five saves for the second consecutive game. The Lincoln Park, N.J. native has now averaged 4.7 saves per contest while maintaining strong positioning and shot-stopping ability.
“She’s very much a calming influence on us. It’s nice to have a senior goalkeeper with that experience that she’s gained now. Half the time she doesn’t have to make saves because she organizes the back four so well in front of her.” — Ian Stone Head Coach St. John’s University
Bower’s most crucial work came in the second half as Youngstown State pressed for a comeback. She made several point-blank saves in the 62nd minute during a goalmouth scramble that ultimately led to the Penguins’ penalty kick.
Penalty Drama Changes Momentum
The match’s turning point came in the 62nd minute when Bower made a series of spectacular saves during a chaotic sequence in front of the goal. After video review, officials determined a foul had occurred and awarded Youngstown State a penalty kick.
Camille Bultel stepped up and converted from the spot, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with 28 minutes remaining. The goal sparked the Penguins into action and set up a tense finish at Belson Stadium.
Statistical Battle Reflects Two Halves
The numbers told the story of two contrasting halves. St. John’s dominated the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Youngstown State 8-5 while creating numerous clear chances. The Red Storm recorded the first five shots of the match before the Penguins found their rhythm.
The second half saw a complete reversal as Youngstown State outshot St. John’s 11-2 in their desperate search for an equalizer. The Penguins earned three corner kicks in the final 45 minutes and peppered Bower’s goal with 16 total shots.
Mariani led St. John’s attack with three shots, all on target, while Daniela Monzon added two shots on goal. For Youngstown State, Bultel was their most dangerous threat with four shots and three on target, including her penalty conversion.
Ruiz Shines in First Start
Freshman Leana Ruiz made the most of her first collegiate start, scoring the eventual game-winner and showing composure beyond her years. Her goal marked a milestone moment for both player and program, while Agresti’s assist was her first point since August 17, 2023.
The connection between the experienced Agresti and newcomer Ruiz highlighted the blend of veteran leadership and fresh talent that could define St. John’s season.
Home Opener Tradition Continues
The victory maintained St. John’s remarkable home opener tradition, extending their winning streak in season debuts at Cox Family Field to six consecutive years. The Red Storm showed the resilience and character needed to protect leads under pressure.
Despite being outshot 16-10 overall, St. John’s proved more clinical with their opportunities. They converted two of their seven shots on target while limiting Youngstown State to one goal from seven shots on frame.
Looking Forward
St. John’s improves to 2-1-0 overall as they build momentum heading into Big East Conference play. The Red Storm will look to continue their winning ways when they host Columbia on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Youngstown State drops to 1-5-0 and will search for answers after creating numerous chances but failing to capitalize. The Penguins showed fighting spirit in their comeback attempt, but couldn’t find the equalizer despite sustained pressure.
“I’m looking forward to that because that’s always, it’s like our equivalent to a local derby, I think, in terms of the proximity in the five boroughs. That’s always a battle. Whether we have a great team, they have a bad team. Whether we have a bad team, they have a great team. It’s always a really tight game.” — Ian Stone (St. John’s Univerity) on Columbia coming to town next.
The victory provides valuable confidence for St. John’s as they integrate new players and build chemistry. With Mariani finding her scoring touch and Bower providing reliable goalkeeping, the Red Storm appear well-positioned for a successful campaign.
Match Details: Attendance 551 at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium, Queens, N.Y.
Officials: Referee Dave Breckner, Assistant Referees Diego Dominguez and Colby Johnson, Alternate Official Jorge Ramirez
SJU Soccer News:
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