Red Storm Loses 2-0 To Undefeated No. 16/16 Marquette In Season Finale

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Red Storm women's soccer team held No. 16/16 Marquette scoreless through 48 minutes of play before losing 2-0 to the undefeated Golden Eagles. With the win, Marquette became just the third team in BIG EAST Conference history to win all of its league games with an 11-0-0 record.

"It was a season where our young team gained some valuable experience," remarked St. John's head coach Ian Stone. "We played hard right until the end of the season, after playing through a competitive non-conference schedule then on to BIG EAST play where anything can happen. We had so many young players playing in our lineup, filling empty spots. We learned a lot of lessons during the season, which will carry over to next year. Especially, with a young energized team who have had a year of experience under their belt.

This will to win, and dedication to the game was exemplified by our two graduating seniors that played their last game today, Nicole Canning and Nicole Pasciolla. They have been tremendous veteran role models for us this season. We wish them and their families all the very best of luck in their future endeavors."

The Golden Eagles (14-3-2, 11-0-0 BIG EAST) didn't score until the second period as Rachael Sloan scored her sixth goal of the season. Rachel Brown and Ashley Bares set up the goal which hit the post before Sloan helped it in.

Marquette scored their insurance goal in the 68th minute, with another low shot, this time to the far corner of the net off a shot by Lindsey Page.

St. John's (6-10-2, 3-7-1 BIG EAT) junior goalkeeper Kristin Russell faced four shots on goal in the first period. She stopped all of them. Marquette had 20 shots go toward St. John's goal, but just seven on net.

The loss ended St. John's 2010 season, which was highlighted by conference wins against Connecticut, Seton Hall and Pittsburgh. At UConn, the Red Storm had a 2-1 come-back victory to record its first BIG EAST win of the season. With 17 freshman, St. John's played against some of the top competition in the country, with tight matches against Top 25 teams such as then-No. 8 Texas A&M, then No. 5/7 Notre Dame and then No. 16/16 Marquette.

Midfielder Nicole Pasciolla was tabbed a Top 10 National Finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, junior goalkeeperKristin Russell earned BIG EAST honor roll accolades twice, while sophomore Runa Stefansdottir was placed on the honor roll on Sept. 6 after tournament-winning performance against Rhode Island and Fordham with two game-winning goals. Stefansdottir was also recognized by BigAppleSoccer.com for scoring the "Goals of the Week."

The Red Storm was named the Tournament winner of the James Madison University/Comfort Inn Invitational (Aug. 27-29) after defeating JMU, 1-0, and tying with Virginia Commonwealth. Pasciolla, Russell and rookies Amy Marron and Michelle Iannacchino were selected to the All-Tournament Team. Despite going undefeated at the Hofstra Invitational (Sept. 3-5), St. John's finished as the tournament's runner up, as Hofstra finished with more goals scored. Pasciolla and seniorRaelynne Lee were named to the All-Tournament team.

St. John's will graduate just two student-athletes from the 2010 season, as the Red Storm will look to come back in 2011 with a lot of depth and experience.