St. John’s Falls to Villanova 1-0 on Emotional Senior Night at Belson Stadium

RED STORM HONORS FOUR SENIORS IN HEARTBREAKING BIG EAST LOSS; KAYLA BOWER RECORDS EIGHT SAVES IN FINAL HOME GAME

Jamacia, N.Y. – In an emotional Senior Night at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium, the St. John’s women’s soccer team (2-7-4, 0-4-2 BIG EAST) fell 1-0 to Villanova (8-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) on Saturday night, extending their winless conference streak despite another heroic performance from senior captain Kayla Bower.

The Wildcats scored an early goal in the 12th minute and held on for the remainder of the match, outshooting St. John’s 22-2 and controlling 53% of possession. Despite the lopsided statistics, the Red Storm battled until the final whistle, with Bower recording eight saves—her sixth consecutive match with six or more stops.

Before kickoff, four seniors—Mia Agresti, Kayla Bower, Molly McGlame, and Emily Riggins—were honored for their contributions to the women’s soccer program. The ceremony, attended by Head Coach Ian Stone, Deputy Athletics Director Dr. John Diffley, Ed.D., and Vice President/Director of Athletics Ed Kull, celebrated the legacy of a senior class that has given everything to St. John’s soccer.

The loss drops St. John’s to 0-4-2 in BIG EAST play and marks a difficult end to the home schedule for a group of seniors who have been the heart and soul of the program.

FIRST HALF: VILLANOVA STRIKES EARLY, BOWER KEEPS IT CLOSE

Villanova wasted no time asserting control, recording 11 first-half shots while holding St. John’s without a single attempt on goal.

12th Minute: Alex Little Gives Villanova the Lead

The Wildcats opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Alex Little capitalized on a misheaded ball inside the box. Little pounced on the loose ball and tucked home a shot from right in front of the net to give Villanova a 1-0 advantage.

The goal was Little’s first of the season and came just moments after a Villanova corner kick had put pressure on the St. John’s defense. The early strike set the tone for the remainder of the match, with Villanova controlling possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities.

Kayla Bower Stands Tall

Despite the relentless Villanova attack, senior goalkeeper Kayla Bower kept St. John’s in the match with four first-half saves. Bower denied dangerous attempts from Avrie Nelsen (7th minute), Morgan Kotch (12th and 19th minutes), and Hannah Curtin (30th minute), preventing Villanova from extending their lead.

Bower’s performance was a fitting tribute on her Senior Night—a reminder of the countless times she has kept the Red Storm competitive throughout her career.

First Half Dominance

Villanova’s first-half statistics told the story of their control:

• 11 shots (5 on target) to St. John’s 0 shots
• 3 corner kicks to St. John’s 0 corners
• 54% possession to St. John’s 46%
• Kayla Bower: 4 saves to keep the deficit at one goal

St. John’s struggled to generate offensive pressure, with Villanova’s defense limiting the Red Storm to zero shots and zero corners in the opening 45 minutes.

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SECOND HALF: RED STORM FIGHTS BACK, BOWER MAKES HEROIC SAVES

St. John’s came out with renewed energy in the second half, recording both of their shots and creating their best scoring opportunity of the match.

51st Minute: St. John’s Best Chance

The Red Storm engineered their best opportunity of the night in the 51st minute off a corner kick. Abby Fitzmaurice provided the service, finding Emily Riggins in the box. Riggins volleyed a goal attempt, but the shot sailed over the crossbar—a heartbreaking near-miss for the senior on her special night.

It was St. John’s first real scoring chance of the match and gave the home crowd a brief moment of hope.

72nd Minute: Bower’s Heroic Double Save

The defining moment of the match came in the 72nd minute when Bower made a pair of incredible saves to keep St. John’s within striking distance. Villanova’s Morgan Kotchfired two dangerous attempts from close range, but Bower denied both with spectacular reflexes, diving to her left and then quickly recovering to stop the follow-up shot.

The double save drew roars from the 264 fans in attendance and epitomized Bower’s career—relentless, fearless, and determined to give her team a chance.

Head Coach Ian Stone on Bower’s performance:
“Kayla was phenomenal tonight. She’s been phenomenal all season. On her Senior Night, she gave us everything she had—eight saves, countless big moments, and the kind of leadership that defines what it means to be a Red Storm. We’re so proud of her and everything she’s done for this program.”

Villanova Holds On

Despite St. John’s late push, Villanova’s defense held firm. The Wildcats recorded 11 second-half shots (5 on target) and forced Bower into five more saves, but they couldn’t extend their lead. St. John’s managed just two shots (both off target) and struggled to create sustained offensive pressure.

Villanova goalkeeper Hannah Dickinson earned the shutout without facing a single shot on target, as the Wildcats’ defense limited St. John’s to just two attempts all night.

Red Storm News:

• No. 15 Georgetown Dominates St. John’s 4-0 Behind Two Penalty Kicks and Stellar Defense
• Marquette Dominates St. John’s 3-1 Behind Offensive Surge in Milwaukee
• St. John’s and Seton Hall Play to Scoreless Draw in Historic Big East Rivalry
• St. John’s Battles Back for Crucial 1-1 Draw Against Providence in Big East Conference Opener

SENIOR NIGHT: HONORING FOUR RED STORM LEGENDS

Before kickoff, St. John’s honored four seniors who have been the backbone of the program:

Kayla Bower – Senior Captain, Goalkeeper

The BIG EAST leader in saves per game, Bower has been a workhorse for the Red Storm throughout her career. She recorded eight saves on Senior Night—her sixth consecutive match with six or more stops—and finished the week averaging 8.5 saves per game (8 vs. Georgetown, 8 vs. Villanova).

Bower’s leadership, work ethic, and relentless determination have defined her St. John’s career. She leaves as one of the program’s all-time great goalkeepers.

Coach Stone on Bower:
“Kayla is the heart and soul of this team. She’s been our rock, our leader, and our inspiration. Every single day, she shows up and gives everything she has. Her legacy at St. John’s will be remembered for years to come.”

Mia Agresti – Midfielder

A versatile midfielder who has contributed in multiple roles throughout her career, Agresti has been a steady presence in the Red Storm midfield. She played 41 minutes on Senior Night and has been a key part of the team’s defensive structure and transition play.

Molly McGlame – Forward

McGlame has been a consistent offensive threat and a tireless worker in the attacking third. She played 77 minutes on Senior Night and has been a key contributor to the Red Storm’s offensive efforts throughout her career.

Emily Riggins – Midfielder

Riggins recorded one of St. John’s two shots on Senior Night—a volley off a corner kick that sailed just over the crossbar. A hard-working midfielder with a strong defensive presence, Riggins has been a key part of the Red Storm’s midfield throughout her career.

Coach Stone on the senior class:
“This senior class has given so much to this program. They’ve battled through adversity, shown incredible resilience, and represented St. John’s with class and pride. Tonight was about celebrating them and everything they’ve accomplished. We’re so grateful for their contributions.”

KAYLA BOWER: A CAREER DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE

Despite the loss, Bower’s performance on Senior Night was a fitting tribute to her remarkable career. She recorded eight saves on 10 shots on target, extending her streak of dominant performances:

Bower’s Recent Stretch:

• Oct 4 vs. Georgetown: 8 saves
• Oct 11 vs. Villanova: 8 saves
• Average over last 6 games: 6+ saves per game
• BIG EAST leader in saves per game

Bower has been the Red Storm’s most consistent performer all season, keeping St. John’s competitive in nearly every match despite facing heavy offensive pressure from opponents.

Coach Stone:
“Kayla’s been the best player on the field for us all season. She’s faced an incredible number of shots, and she’s made save after save after save. Tonight was no different. She gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask from your goalkeeper.”

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES CONTINUE FOR ST. JOHN’S

St. John’s offensive struggles were evident once again, as the Red Storm managed just two shots (both off target) and failed to record a single shot on goal.

Offensive Stats:

• 2 total shots (0 on target)
• 2 corner kicks
• 47% possession
• 10 fouls
• 1 yellow card (Nia Derodel, 57th minute)

Leana Ruiz recorded one shot (blocked) in the 51st minute, and Emily Riggins recorded one shot (over the crossbar) in the 77th minute off a corner kick. Those were the only two offensive chances the Red Storm could muster.

Coach Stone on the offensive struggles:
“We’re struggling to create chances right now. Credit to Villanova—they defended well and made it difficult for us to get into dangerous areas. But we need to find ways to be more dangerous in the attacking third. We’re working on it every day in training, and we’ll keep pushing to improve.”

VILLANOVA’S BALANCED ATTACK

Villanova’s offense was relentless, recording 22 total shots and 10 shots on target. Morgan Kotch led the Wildcats with eight shots (five on target), constantly testing Bower throughout the match.

Villanova’s Top Performers:

• Morgan Kotch: 8 shots (5 on target)
• Alex Little: 2 shots (2 on target), 1 goal
• Hannah Curtin: 2 shots (1 on target)
• Olivia Marrone: 2 shots
• Avrie Nelsen: 2 shots (1 on target)

Villanova’s depth and offensive firepower were on full display, with multiple players contributing to the attack and keeping St. John’s defense under constant pressure.

Hannah Dickinson earned the shutout in goal for Villanova, playing all 90 minutes without facing a single shot on target.

BY THE NUMBERS

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Half:

• 12th Minute: Alex Little (Villanova) – Unassisted – 1-0 Villanova

2nd Half:

• No goals

PLAYER STATS

Villanova:

• Alex Little: 1 goal, 2 shots (2 on target)
• Morgan Kotch: 8 shots (5 on target)
• Hannah Curtin: 2 shots (1 on target)
• Olivia Marrone: 2 shots
• Hannah Dickinson: 90 minutes, shutout (0 saves needed)

St. John’s:

• Kayla Bower: 8 saves, 90 minutes
• Emily Riggins: 1 shot (off target)
• Leana Ruiz: 1 shot (blocked)
• Nia Derodel: 1 yellow card (57th minute), 2nd career start

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH IAN STONE

On the loss:

“It’s a tough result, especially on Senior Night. Our seniors deserved better tonight. But I’m proud of how we fought. Villanova is a good team, and they made it difficult for us. We just couldn’t find that breakthrough moment offensively.”

On Kayla Bower’s performance:

“Kayla was phenomenal tonight. She’s been phenomenal all season. On her Senior Night, she gave us everything she had—eight saves, countless big moments, and the kind of leadership that defines what it means to be a Red Storm. We’re so proud of her and everything she’s done for this program.”

On the senior class:

“This senior class has given so much to this program. They’ve battled through adversity, shown incredible resilience, and represented St. John’s with class and pride. Tonight was about celebrating them and everything they’ve accomplished. We’re so grateful for their contributions.”

On the offensive struggles:

“We’re struggling to create chances right now. Credit to Villanova—they defended well and made it difficult for us to get into dangerous areas. But we need to find ways to be more dangerous in the attacking third. We’re working on it every day in training, and we’ll keep pushing to improve.”

On Emily Riggins’ near-miss:

“Emily had a great chance off that corner kick. She hit it well, but it just went over. That’s the kind of moment we need to capitalize on. We’re getting closer, and I believe we’ll break through soon.”

On Nia Derodel’s second career start:

“Nia stepped up tonight and gave us solid minutes. She’s a young player who’s continuing to develop, and I’m proud of how she competed. She’s got a bright future ahead of her.”

On the road ahead:

“We’ve got a tough road game at No. 20 Xavier on Wednesday. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re going to go there and compete. We’re not giving up on this season. We’re going to keep fighting and keep working to get better.”

LOOKING AHEAD

St. John’s:

The Red Storm (2-7-4, 0-4-2 BIG EAST) will travel to Cincinnati on Wednesday night to face No. 20 Xavier at Corcoran Field in a BIG EAST road match. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.

St. John’s will look to snap their winless conference streak and earn their first BIG EAST victory of the season against one of the league’s top teams.

Villanova:

The Wildcats (8-5, 3-2 BIG EAST) earned their third BIG EAST win of the season and will look to continue their conference momentum in their next match.

FINAL SCORE

Villanova 1, St. John’s 0

Attendance: 264
Location: Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium, Queens, N.Y.
Date: October 11, 2025
Senior Night

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