Reminiscent of last year’s contest at George Mason, the St. John’s women’s soccer team’s season-opener took nearly four hours to complete before the Red Storm could record a 2-0 victory.
The season-opener under the lights at Belson was delayed twice due to thunder and lightning storms, and after a few fits and starts the game was completed after 10 p.m. Last year’s game in Fairfax was played under similar circumstances.
Junior forward Morgan Ritter scored her first career goal with the game-winner in the first half. Junior forward Hailey Hemmer netted the safety goal in the 90th minute of play, assisted by rookie Shelby Halász. Hemmer’s goal and Halász’s assist were the first points of either player’s career.
Junior goalkeeper Lauren Ferris earned the victory for the Red Storm with two saves.
By the time the contest finished, the Red Storm (1-0) and Patriots (0-1) had been on the field for three hours and 45 minutes.
Ritter scored the eventual game-winner in the 13th minute for St. John’s. Taking the ball down the field from the defensive third up the right sideline, Ritter beat out the George Mason defender one-on-one.
George Mason had its best chance to score in the 16th minute as Nicole Clarke headed the ball toward the goal after a Jazmin Cardoza corner kick. Clarke’s shot was blocked by junior Kristina Quan, but the ball rebounded right back to Clarke who got a second shot off. Clarke’s second ball went just high of the cross bar.
In the final 20 minutes, the Patriots gradually turned up the pressure, increasing their shot count to six in the second half.
George Mason outshot St. John’s 13-6.
