Villanova Women's Soccer Blanked by St. John's 1-0 :: The Wildcats were shut out by the Red Storm on Sunday afternoon in Queens, N.Y.

Oct. 3, 2004

QUEENS, NY - The No. 18 Villanova Wildcats were shutout by the St. John's Red Storm, 1-0, this afternoon in BIG EAST women's soccer action at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y. The Wildcats fell to 9-3-0 overall on the season with the loss, and 3-2-0 in BIG EAST play. The win marked the first conference victory for St. John's, as the Storm improved to 7-4-1 on the season.

Laura Burlacu came off the bench for St. John's to score the game-winner, her second goal of the season, with four minutes remaining in the first half.

Villanova challenged Red Storm keeper Tracey Rollings throughout the first half, firing nine shots at the goal. Rollings came up with three big saves to keep the Wildcats off the board. Villanova had an opportunity to take the lead with five minutes remaining in the first, after a bad kick by Rollings left Laura Johnson in place for a shot. Johnson took a shot from the center of the box towards the open net, but Pristina Alford was there to block the shot and clear the ball.

The Red Storm counterattacked and within 15 seconds, had taken the lead on a nearly identical play. Villanova's keeper, Jillian Loyden, misplayed an attempt to clear the ball after leaving her line. Laura Burlacu, who had challenged the keeper on the play, settled the ball, and blasted a shot to the far left corner behind Loyden for the would-be gamewinner.

Villanova's closest chance to tie the match in the second half came late in the period when Valerie Grow took a shot from 12-yards out, but Rollings was there to make the save.

Rollings finished with three saves for St. John's and recorded her third shutout of the season. Loyden made one save for Villanova.

Villanova will get back into action on Friday, Oct. 8th, hosting the No. 1 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish at 4:00 p.m.