Jamaica, NY -- The St. John's women's soccer team qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time since 1994 by finishing fourth in the BIG EAST's Northeast Conference with a 3-3 record.

The Red Storm (6-9, 3-3 BIG EAST) will meet the #8 ranked University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-2-1, 5-1 BIG EAST) in South Bend, IN, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 4th.

St. John's head coach Ian Stone gets back to the conference tournament after a seven year absence. His 1994 team (14-4-1) led by Most Valuable Player Cristin Burtis won the coveted BIG EAST title with a 1-0 victory over Boston College at Storrs, CT. Stone has amassed an overall record of 71-64-11 in eight seasons for a winning percentage of .526.

SJU will be without the services of senior Lisa Rinaldi (torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in her left knee) and Jen Pugsley (torn cartliage in her left knee) who are both out for the season.

Rinaldi's injury came in the Red Storm's 1-0 overtime win versus Manhattan on October 24. She ended her St. John's career with six goals and 17 assists for a total of 29 points.

Pugsley tore cartliage in her left knee on October 2 and had successful surgery on October 10. The junior is expected to make a full recorvery and be back in uniform next fall for SJU.

Notre Dame is the #1 seed from the BIG EAST's Mid-Atlantic Division. In a previous meeting between the two teams on October 12, the Fighting Irish downed St. John's 7-0 in South Bend.

The BIG EAST Tournament pairings are as follows:

QUARTERFINALS: (all games Nov. 4)

St. John's at Notre Dame, 1 p.m., Rutgers at Boston College, Noon, Villanova at UCONN, Noon, Miami at West Virginia, 1 p.m.

SEMI-FINALS/FINAL: (at Rutgers University, Nov. 9-11)