The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team followed up their double-overtime scoreless tie yesterday with a lop-sided offensive showcase today, driving past Johnson State College, 5-0, in a neutral site game played at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. The win lifted the Dolphins to 1-0-1 on the season, while JSC dipped to 0-2.
In a game dominated by the Dolphins from start to finish, CSI left little to question, scattering 45 shots in the 90 minute affair, as CSI made use of 10 substitutions. Still, it took CSI almost a half hour to crack into the scoring column. JSC keeper Kaila Lemmer was busy, posting 9 saves before CSI would register, when a Jennifer Cosenza pass found freshman Krystina Rodriguez who laced one in to open the scoring at 29:40 of the first half. Rodriguez had hit the crossbar in CSI’s game against Norwich yesterday, a game that resulted in a 0-0 tie.
Roughly a minute after the Rodriguez goal, CSI saw a Lauren Smith shot saved by Lemmer, but just a minute after that, CSI earned another chance, and this time hit paydirt as this time it was Rodriguez finding an open Cosenza, who knocked the ball in past Lemmer to make it 2-0 at 31:31. CSI would tally another six shots in the half, forcing two Lemmer saves before Rodriguez hit the crossbar again in the 41st minute, preserving the 2-0 lead at intermission.
Freshman Stephanie Lapointe made her presence felt in the second stanza. The St. Joseph by the Sea product followed up a corner kick scramble with her first goal of the season in the 48th minute, and after three more corners, Lapointe scored again in the 58th minute to make it 4-0, continuing the rout. CSI keeper Nicole Mignone needed only register one save but Johnson State almost spoiled the season-opening shutout against CSI keeper Samantha Guillen when a Madison Prescott shot hit the post in the 65th minute. From there though, many of the highlights were reserved for JSC keeper Lemmer, who 12 second half saves to finish with 24 on the busy day.
To finalize the scoring, CSI’s Lauren Smith notched her first goal of the year in the 86th minute, off of a turnover unassisted.
Rodriguez led all with eight shots, followed by Smith’s seven. Fourteen different shot-takers decorated the scoresheet and CSI finished with a 15-0 edge in corner kicks. There were no cautions issued.
CSI will return home and will be idle until their home opener on Wednesday, September 7, at 4pm, against Purchase State College. The Panthers are opening their season this weekend with games today and tomorrow.