Bronx, N.Y – Holly Ryder (Plantation, Fla.) scored the game-winning goal as the St. John’s women’s soccer team stopped a late surge by the Fordham Rams this afternoon in the Bronx and held on for a 4-3 win. The Red Storm improve to 2-5 on the season, while Fordham falls to 2-3.

St. John’s pulled out to a 1-0 lead at the 20:16 mark when Kaitlin Schmidt (Centereach, N.Y.) threaded the ball through two Fordham defenders from the right side to Dominica Reina (Frankfort, N.Y.) in the center of the field, just over the midfield line. Reina turned with the ball and sped past the final defender and beat the goalkeeper one-versus-one to the lower right corner of the goal.

Six minutes later, Fordham was rewarded with a direct kick after a St. John’s foul, and sent the ball to the upper right corner of the net, tying the game at one.

The Red Storm bounced back just one minute later when Natasha Lee (Albuquerque, N.M.) broke free, but her shot was stopped by Fordham keeper, Shannon Misiaszck. Lee’s efforts continued, as she connected on her next shot, putting the Red Storm up 2-1.

Erin Bohn (Mission Viejo, Calif.) fed Lee, who was breaking down the right side of the field. Lee beat the Fordham defense, turned the corner and blasted a shot across the mouth of the goal and into the net off of the far post.

Minutes later, Mallory DiMaio (Orefield, Pa.) dished the ball to Pristina Alford (Seattle, Wash.) who chipped it over the midfield to Lee. Once again, Lee beat the defense, set herself up with a one-on-one with the keeper and sent the ball to the back of the net, giving the Red Storm a 3-1 advantage headed into the break.

The Rams picked up their attack in the second half, cutting the lead to two at the 46:03 mark when Leah Jerome’s shot from corner kick range caught the far post and deflected in to the net for Fordham.

In the mix again, Lee teamed up with Ryder (Plantation, Fla.) for the Red Storm’s fourth and final goal at the 56:44 mark. Lee’s dish set up a 24-yard blast by Ryder, who tallied her second goal in as many games, giving St. John’s a 4-2 lead.

Fordham’s final goal came in the 61st minute when a failed clearance allowed for a shot by the Rams. Gabriela Franco (Brentwood, N.Y.) deflected the shot, which was not cleared, and allowed Jackie Aines a five-yard shot that deflected off Franco hands into the net.

The Rams nearly tied the game when a cross and a shot by Fordham was saved by Red Storm defender, Alford, on the goal line, but St. John’s held on for the 4-3 win.

Franco finished with five saves in the net for the Red Storm.

The Red Storm are back in action on Friday at home against Pittsburgh. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.