Athletics

Double the Glory for Golden Eagles Soccer

Men’s and women’s teams capture Skyline Conference titles, advance to NCAA tournaments

By Brian Harmon

A large group of men’s and women’s soccer players and coaches pose in a gymnasium. Many wear "Skyline Conference Champions" shirts, with two championship trophies placed in the front.

It was truly a golden autumn for St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Long Island Campus soccer programs, as both the men’s and women’s teams claimed 2025 Skyline Conference Championships and advanced to the NCAA Division III national tournaments.

Each squad — third-seeded in their respective brackets — rose to the occasion on the same November Saturday in the Bronx, earning dramatic road victories over top-seeded Mount Saint Vincent College to bring the conference titles back to Patchogue.

A female St. Joseph’s University soccer player in a dark blue uniform with jersey number 23 dribbles a soccer ball. She has her hair in a bun and wears a pink captain's armband.

Women’s Team Claims First Conference Title in a Decade

In a championship showdown that stretched into double overtime, the women’s soccer team outlasted Mount Saint Vincent, 2–1, to capture its first Skyline crown in 10 years and secure the program’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship.

After falling behind in the first half, the Golden Eagles tied the score in the 77th minute when senior Emily Farrington finished a setup from graduate student Sierra “CC” Rosario. In the 108th minute, senior Savannah Modica delivered the golden goal, sealing a thrilling victory and sparking an on-field celebration.

Rosario played a pivotal role throughout the match, leading all players with four shots on goal and assisting on the tying score, while goalkeeper Kristin Vahle anchored the back line in 108 minutes of play. Senior defender Erica Urbancik earned Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after leading a defense that held the Dolphins to just three shots on goal.

The Golden Eagles finished the season 13–3–3 overall and 8–1–2 in conference play before winning three straight tournament matches. The team then traveled to Claremont, California, losing its first-round NCAA tournament matchup against Pomona-Pitzer College, 3-0.

Rosario, a Selden native, led the Golden Eagles in scoring with eight goals and five assists. Farrington, a Patchogue-Medford High School graduate, followed with seven goals and five assists, while Vahle, of Farmingville and a St. Anthony’s High School alumna, posted eight shutouts and a stingy 0.53 goals-against average for the season.

Action shot of a male St. Joseph’s University soccer player in a blue uniform performing a high mid-air bicycle kick against a white background, eyes focused on the ball above him.

Men’s Team Completes Statement Run to Title and NCAA Bid

Hours before the women’s victory, the men’s team kicked off a memorable day for St. Joseph’s soccer by defeating top-seeded, previously unbeaten Mount Saint Vincent, 2–1, to claim its own Skyline title and NCAA berth.

Sophomore standout Jack Pulisic wasted no time putting St. Joseph’s ahead, scoring just 19 seconds into the match off a quick combination from Aidan Bayer and Jhon Garces. Pulisic struck again in the 32nd minute — his 14th goal of the season — on a feed from senior Sean Gordon to make it 2–0 at halftime.

Playing down a man for the final 35 minutes following a red card, the Golden Eagles weathered intense pressure from Mount Saint Vincent. Goalkeeper Dean Burchard, a freshman from Ronkonkoma, turned aside three shots, including a critical late save to preserve the win.

Pulisic was named Championship Most Outstanding Player after tallying four goals and an assist during the tournament.

The victory extended the men’s winning streak to seven games — including four shutouts — and sent the Golden Eagles (13–4–1 overall, 8–2–1 Skyline) to Scranton, Pennsylvania, for their first-round NCAA Division III tournament match against Scranton University, losing 4-0.

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