JERSEY CITY, NJ–The Saint Peter's women's soccer team stepped onto Jaroschak Field for the final time in the 2025 season Wednesday afternoon. The Peacocks battled hard in their season finale, earning their first-ever win in program history against Sacred Heart, 2-1.
Stella Accettola notched her first two goals of the season, closing her career with eight points, while
Joana Dias added her fourth assist to finish the year as the team leader with 14 points.
Head Coach
Julia Bazi reflected on the team's progress after the match:
"It was a successful season in terms of our record–it is the best they have had in, as far back as you can see," Bazi said. "To look at the positives, it was unfortunate because we had such a great start (to the season), and then injuries took over and kind of roller-coastered our season, but the core of this group is very strong, so (I am) very excited for next year."
WHAT HAPPENED:
FIRST HALF
Saint Peter's came out hot, registering two quick shots in the opening minutes of play.
Mayla McLean fired an attempt from just outside the corner of the box, forcing Sacred Heart keeper Kyran Thievon into an early save. Moments later,
Devin Reeves sent a cross into McLean, who dribbled around her defender in the 18 before unleashing another shot that Thievon collected.
Ten minutes in, and the Pioneers had their first look on frame. Off a free kick 35 yards, Shea Kelleher sent a missile straight to goal, but
Emma Lopes secured it cleanly to keep things level.
In the 17th minute, Sacred Heart broke through. Morgan Bovardi slipped behind the defense, forcing Lopes off her line into a diving split save, but Bovardi pounced on the rebound and finished to make it 1-0 SHU.
Less than 10 minutes later, Saint Peter's answered back. Off a Reeves throw-in and a pair of headers from
Macey Williams and Dias, Accettola fired from close range. Thievon blocked the initial attempt, but Accettola followed her shot and buried the rebound into the left corner for her first goal of the season, leveling the match at 1-1.
The Peacocks nearly took the lead in the closing minute of the half. Off an Accettola corner, she served the ball to the back post, where
Wilma Thodhlana rose for a header that missed just wide.
At halftime, both sides registered nine shots apiece. Saint Peter's held a slim 6–5 edge in shots on goal, while Sacred Heart led 3–2 in corners.
SECOND HALF
The second half opened evenly, with both sides trading early chances. Sacred Heart earned back-to-back corners but couldn't convert as the Peacocks' back line held firm.
The match turned physical midway through, with seven cards handed out in the half-- six to Saint Peter's and one to Sacred Heart.
As the half progressed, the Pioneers started to control possession, firing off seven shots to the Peacocks' one during the stretch. Second-half keeper
Bergljot Kristinsdottir came up big with a pair of key saves to keep the score tied.
Saint Peter's broke through with under fifteen minutes off, just their second shot of the half. From a Williams set piece from midfield, the ball dropped to
Sydney Ragland, who laid it off to Dias. After drawing the keeper off her line, Dias slipped it to Accettola, who finished deep into the right corner to give Saint Peter's a 2-1 lead.
Moments later, Sacred Heart pushed back on the attack. After a foul in the box, the Pioneers were awarded a penalty. Lindsay McShea stepped up and aimed for the lower right corner, but Kristinsdottir made the clutch diving save to preserve the lead.
At the final whistle, Sacred Heart held a 19-11 edge in total shots, though both squads tallied nine shots on target, with the Pioneers also leading 9-2 in corners. The Saint Peter's goalkeeping duo combined for seven saves, while SHU's Kyran Thievon finished with six.
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