QUEENS, N.Y. — Senior goalkeeper Chrissy Mayer made six saves, but St. John's got a pair of goals from Zsani Kajan on either side of halftime to secure a 2-0 victory over the Cornell women's soccer team on a hot Saturday afternoon at Belson Stadium.
 
Aided by a full week of rest and preparation, St. John's (3-6) took control territorially within the first 15 minutes of the game on its way to a 22-2 advantage in attempted shots on the day. But Cornell (4-2-1) effectively absorbed those punches as the first half wore on, limiting the home side's quality chances. Five of Mayer's six saves came in the first half, and the Big Red was 1 minute, 31 seconds away from getting to the intermission even.
 
But Kajan – the Big East's leading goal-scorer last year with 11 – gave St. John's the all-important first goal. Long service was knifed down by the Big Red back line, though Kayla Mesaros was able to regain possession and cut toward the middle. Mesaros then patiently awaited a diagonal run from Kajan, then threaded a perfect pass between the flank and central defenders to enter the penalty area unscathed before calmly tapping a left-footed shot inside the near post.
 
That changed the tone of the game entering the second half. Cornell's best chance to equalize came 12 minutes into the second half. Abby Adams served a free kick from the Big Red side of midfield that bounced all the way toward the top of the 18-yard box. Freshman Ashley Durik pressured the play and collided with two St. John's defenders, with all three hitting the turf. Senior Kennedy Yearby gained possession and shrugged off another defender as she angled to the right, then got off a sharp-angle shot from five yards that forced an alert save from St. John's goalkeeper Naya Lipkens.
 
Ten minutes later, Kajan struck again – this time from the penalty spot. She had also drawn the chance while being fouled just as she entered the 18-yard box, then she skidded a left-footed shot along the turf to Mayer's right.

Mayer's best save came afterward, when she got down quickly to make a one-handed stop to her left of an open Mesaros shot from 12 yards.
 
With temperatures well into the 80s on the artificial surface at Belson Stadium, the Big Red deployed 21 players on Saturday. It was the last tune-up before Ivy League play for Cornell, which is winless in its last three — though it remains undefeated at home, where it hosts Columbia next at 1 p.m. Saturday.