WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Chloe Messer converted a first-half penalty kick and the Monmouth University women's soccer defense made the advantage stand as the Hawks earned a 1-0 victory over St. John's on Thursday afternoon at Hesse Field on The Great Lawn.
The win improved Monmouth to 3-1-2 on the season and extended its unbeaten streak to four consecutive matches. It also marked the Hawks' third straight victory over the Red Storm and their second consecutive season shutting out St. John's.
"Another hard fought, team win for us at home," said Head Coach Kylee Flynn. "The heat was definitely a factor today and we needed to rely heavily on our depth to be able to keep throwing numbers forward to keep putting the pressure on."
Gallery: (9-3-2026) Women's Soccer vs. St. John's 9/3/26
Neither side generated much separation statistically, with both teams finishing with seven shots. Monmouth, however, was much more efficient with its opportunities, placing four attempts on target compared to just one for St. John's. Hawks netminder Tallulah Miller made the lone save required of her to secure the shutout.
Ashley Lavrich produced the first opportunity of the afternoon in the eighth minute, sending a shot wide right. St. John's answered a pair of consecutive chances, but neither attempt tested Miller.
Messer netted the deciding goal midway through the opening period after entering the game just minutes earlier. Evangeline Perdomo drew the opportunity from the penalty spot following a St. John's foul and yellow card in the 23rd minute. Messer stepped up and converted the ensuing penalty kick, driving the attempt into the lower left side past a diving Kayla Bower, putting Monmouth ahead, 1-0. The goal was her second of the season.
"Coach called my number to take the penalty, and I just had to place it," said the senior midfielder. "I was happy to take it and it was just a good feeling to score."
The goal marked Monmouth's third scored penalty kick in the team's last three games, setting a new season-high in penalties scored in a season since Flynn took over in 2022. It is the program's most penalty goals in a season since converting three times from the spot in 2019.
Monmouth continued to create the better chances before halftime. Perdomo put an attempt on frame in the 30th minute, forcing Bower into a save, before Lindsey Husic tested Bower again in the 38th. The Hawks took their one-goal advantage into the break after holding a 4-2 edge in shots and placing three of those attempts on target.
The Red Storm began to generate more possession and attacking pressure in the second half, but Monmouth's defensive unit continued to limit the quality of the opportunities.
Lavrich had a shot blocked less than five minutes after halftime and Saar van der Boom sent an attempt wide in the 60th minute as the Hawks looked for an insurance goal. At the other end, St. John's did not register its first shot on target until the 79th minute, when Schuler forced Miller into her only save of the contest.
The Red Storm continued pressing in the closing minutes, sending a pair of shots wide with under 10 minutes to play. Monmouth nearly doubled its lead when Marie Bogue put a shot on target in the 86th minute, but Bower was up to the task and kept the Red Storm's deficit at one. St. John's produced one final chance in the 90th minute, but the Monmouth defense was able to stand tall and secure team's third shutout of 2026.
Messer scored on her only shot of the afternoon, while Perdomo, Husic and Bogue each put an attempt on target. Miller played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded one save to earn the victory and another clean sheet.
The Monmouth bench had a massive impact withstanding the heat and leading the Hawks to a result. Freshman Keala Cicchino played the final 32 minutes of the game, pairing with starter Charlee Perna, to withstand the late push by the Johnnies. Fellow rookies Nikki Nyguenn and Scarlett Leary also made impacts off the bench, while Victoria Burns made her Hawks debut on Thursday.
Messer added, "It was a really really hot one and we had to do it together. There were a lot of subs, our bench is very deep, so we were all able to do it together and it was awesome."
Flynn continued, "This group continues to buy into the game plan and they choose to work hard for one another. Great team win against an always challenging opponent in St. John's."
The Hawks will look to make it two straight wins and five-consecutive unbeaten outings on Sunday when they head to Newark, N.J., to face NJIT. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
