Women’s Soccer Caps Off Their Season in Winning Fashion Against Sarah Lawrence

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — In their final match of the season, the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) women's soccer team came away with a 2-1 victory over Sarah Lawrence College on Wednesday night from Aviator Field. Freshman Mia Castaneda (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) netted her 11th goal of the season while senior Julia Lavelle (Bayside, N.Y./Mary Louis Academy) dished out her team-leading ninth assist.

The Bears wrap up the year with a 7-8-1 overall record (4-6-0 Skyline) and a seventh place in the conference while the visitors finish their regular season at 9-9-0 (5-5-0 Skyline) one spot ahead of the Bears and in the final playoff position.

How it Happened

The opening 18 minutes did not see much offense with Castaneda notching the game's lone shot in that span. However, the 19th minute saw a breakthrough for the Bears as Christina Di Bartolo's (Middle Village, N.Y./Forest Hills) corner kick ricocheted off the head of a Sarah Lawrence player and into her own net. Following the own goal, both offenses came alive as the squads combined for eight shots in the remaining 26 minutes of the period but the score remained 1-0 in favor of the navy and gray. 

In the 60th minute, Lavelle was fed a ball inside the box but had her shot blocked. Castaneda recovered the ball at the top of the 18 and chipped her shot over the keeper and into the goal for the Bears' second of the match. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the contest, Lynn Rech juked a pair of defenders and scored to cut the Gryphons' deficit in half. The SJC defense prevented the visitors from grabbing a late equalizer, conceding just one shot, as they held on to the 2-1 win.

For the Bears

• Castaneda and Di Bartolo finished with three shots each followed by two from Hayden Reis (Atlanta, Ga./Community Christian School) and one by Lavelle.

• With her assist, Lavelle finishes her collegiate career with 16 assists.

• Alexis Breen (Union, N.J./Keyport) made six saves in 80 minutes.

• Reem Shaban (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht) played in her 45th and final game; matching the program record for goalkeeping appearances set by Nicole Farinella (2012-14).