Oct. 28, 2004

Queens, NY - After winning four BIG EAST regular season games, the St. John's women's soccer team has earned a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament for the fourth-straight season. The Red Storm, who enter the weekend with a 10-7-1 overall mark, are the eighth seed and will face No. 1 Notre Dame in the first round on Sunday, October 31 at 1 pm.

The 2004 senior class is the only class in the history of the St. John's women's soccer program to have qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament in each of their four seasons. In 2001 as freshmen, they brought St. John's back to the conference tournament for the first time after missing the field for the six previous seasons.

A perfect 6-0 start to open the 2004 season set a new record for the best start in program history. St. John's opened the year with back-to-back wins over perennial Northeast region power Hartford (3-2) and Army (4-1), en route to the BAE Systems Army Classic Title. The Red Storm added a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Central Connecticut, before returning to Belson Stadium for three-straight shutout wins, including a 2-0 win over Wagner for the St. John's NYC Nike Classic title.

The BIG EAST season was highlighted by consecutive wins over Villanova - ranked No. 18 at the time - and a 2-1 double overtime win over Seton Hall. The Red Storm also picked up a win over Pittsburgh at home and ended the season with a key come-from-behind win at Providence to clinch a berth in the tournament.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 1 in the nation, stands in the way of the Red Storm advancing to the second round of the tournament, a feat they have not accomplished since winning the championship in 1994.

The Red Storm have been led offensively by sophomore forward Natasha Lee (Albuquerque, NM), who has a team-high six goals this season. Holly Ryder (Plantation, FL) is tied with Lee with 12 points, and leads the team with four assists. Tracey Rollings (Paignton, England) and Jaime Beran (Tucson, AZ) have split time in the net for the Red Storm. Rollings is 7-3 overall and has three shutouts under her belt. She was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week, ECAC Goalkeeper of the Week and Soccer America Goalkeeper of the Week after leading the Red Storm to a 1-0 win over Villanova.

Notre Dame is 16-0-1 overall this year and finished first in the BIG EAST with a 9-0-1 record.