QUEENS, N.Y. (Oct. 8, 2010) – Red Storm rookie Amy Marron scored her second game-winning goal as the St. John’s women’s soccer team tallied its first home victory of the season with a 1-0 triumph over the Pittsburgh Panthers in BIG EAST action Friday night at Belson Stadium.

 Scoreless for 66 minutes, Marron faked right to draw Pittsburgh goalkeeper Morie Kephart out of the goal. Seeing the opportunity, the Red Storm rookie took a straight shot from the center of the box that scored just under the center of the crossbar for the eventual game-winner. Marron was set up from the left side by senior Anna Torregiano, who crossed it to her freshman teammate set up at the top of the box. Marron played the ball out of the air with her body, before setting up her shot.

With the win, St. John’s advances to 5-7-1 overall (2-4 BIG EAST) and gained its second BIG EAST win of the season over an American Division team. Prior to the game, both St. John’s and Pittsburgh were tied with 1-4 records. The Red Storm’s 1-0 victory over the Panthers will fall to 4-9-1 overall and 1-5 in the BIG EAST.

St. John’s and Pitt remained scoreless through the first period, despite St. John’s commanding offensive performance. Junior Jen Leaverton led the way with seven shots, three on goal. After two corner kicks by Pittsburgh in the first three minutes of play, Leaverton came back with a shot on goal in the eighth minute as she sent the ball to the right post three yards away from the goal. Leaverton’s first attempt was saved by Kephart but the clear attempt went out of bounds and gave St. John’s a chance at a corner kick.  Four minutes later, Leaverton continued to pressure sending two shots toward the Pittsburgh goal. One shot went wide and the other blocked as St. John’s goal attempts were stopped short. With less than 10 minutes in the first period, Leaverton once again had a goal chance taken away by Kephart, this time off a fastbreak that gave Leaverton a chance to score from the middle. Kephart came out for the save and knocked the ball away and the Pitt defense cleared it out.

Rookie Morgan Ritter also had a shot attempt in the 38th minute. Her chance was also stopped by Kephart.

In the final minute of the half, junior goalkeeper Kristin Russell (4-7-1) made her first save of the game, knocking the ball away from Liz Carroll’s shot attempt.

Scoreless off the halftime break, Pittsburgh took control early with two shot attempts, one swiped away by Russell and two corner kicks.

Subbing in for Leaverton in the 61st minute, rookie Francisca Okoko took an off-balance shot at the Pittsburgh goal. Her attempt went high, but the Red Storm quickly recovered the goal kick by Kephart. Okoko centered the ball to Torregiano who made a play with the ball back into the left corner. Torregiano saw and crossed the ball to Marron at the top of the box who made the game-winner for the Red Storm.

Despite more than 20 minutes left in the game, St. John’s continued to control play sealing the deal on the 1-0 victory. In the 73rd minute, Pittsburgh had its best chance to score as junior Katelyn Ruhe came up close to the Red Storm net. Russell came up with a save at point-blank range at the right post as Ruhe tried to slip one by her for a possible tying goal. Russell smacked down the ball and the St. John’s defense headed it away. The Red Storm midfield, led by Nicole Pasciolla cleared the ball over the line and out of harms way.

Pittsburgh had one last shot attempt in the final minute by senior Alexandra Jaffe, but the Panthers’ attempt was once again saved by Russell.

St. John’s finished with 14 shots to Pittsburgh’s nine. Pittsburgh had six corner kicks to St. John’s three. Russell finished with four saves.

The goal was Marron’s third for the season. Marron leads the Red Storm offense with seven points (3g, 1a). The assist was Torregiano’s third as well. The win snapped St. John’s four-game draught and was the Red Storm’s first win at Belson in three games played this season.

At halftime, members of the 2009 NCAA Tournament team unveiled the banner that will continue to hang on the east side of Belson Stadium.

Up next, the Red Storm will face West Virginia at home on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. The Mountaineers are coming off a 1-0 victory at Syracuse (Oct. 8) and are currently receiving votes in the NSCAA Top 25 poll.