Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)
Patchogue, NY| Christina Gagliardi breaks program record in both points and goals with a 12-point, five-goal performance as the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's soccer team breeze past Brooklyn College by the score of 8-1 on Saturday afternoon at Danzi Stadium in Patchogue, NY. First-year head coach Rafael Morais earns his first career victory as the Golden Eagles improve to 1-2, while Brooklyn falls to 8-1.
Gagliardi opened the scoring for St. Joseph's in the 12th minute, just five minutes later she netted her second goal of the season before tallying her first career hat trick in the 29th minute. The Ronkonkoma, NY native continued her scoring streak slotting home two more goals in the 32nd and 35th minute to give SJC the commanding 5-0 lead.
Brooklyn snapped its 336-minute scoreless feat, dating back to 2016, in the 36th minute after Keri Kenna rifled an upper-90 free-kick attempt for the Bulldog's lone goal.
Up 5-1 in the 64th minute of the second half, Mackenzie Nyitray made her first appearance of the season and laced home a shot past the diving Bulldogs' goalkeeper to push the Golden Eagles ahead 6-1. Five minutes later Nyitray doubled her goal total to two scoring off a feed from Gagliardi.
Rebecca Walsh rounded out the scoring in the 86th minute for the Golden Eagles and netted her first career goal to down the Bulldogs 8-1.
The Golden Eagles outshot their opponents 34-7 and Juliana Cintron-Leonardo made three saves on the night, while Brooklyn's Dajanna Pena was credited with seven.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Tuesday Sept. 12, when they welcome City College to Danzi Stadium at 7 PM. Live video and stats will be available here.