BRONX, N.Y. – The new era in St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) athletics got off to a positive start as the Lady Bears soccer team defeated Lehman College, 3-0, on Thursday evening on the road at the Lehman College South Field.

Added this fall, the women's soccer team is the 13th varsity sport for the athletic program entering its second season of full NCAA Division III membership. Men's soccer was added last season and competed as a co-ed squad with six women from the current Lady Bears roster. 

It didn't take long for the Lady Bears to find the back of the net as freshman midfielder Pam Chernyakhovsky (Brooklyn, NY/Leon M. Goldstein) scored the game-winner in the 3rd minute off a set piece from a corner kick set up by sophomore Melissa Maloy (Staten Island, NY/St. John's Villa).

The Lady Bears carried the 1-0 lead into the break and applied the pressure throughout the contest with the ball mostly in the Lehman third and finishing with a 10-5 advantage in shots.

St. Joseph's (1-0, 0-0 HVWAC) added an insurance goal in the 61st minute as Sabrina Gargano (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) sent a long through-ball up the middle that sprung Cynthia Gambino (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney) for a breakaway goal. Gambino, the lone female to tally a goal for the co-ed men's team last season, finished with five shots (three on goal).

Freshman Daniella Valencia (Corona, NY/Bayside HS) tacked on the final goal in the 90th minute off an assist by Christina Abbate (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Kearney). Aided by her strong defense that surrendered only five shots, Nicole Farinella (East Patchogue, NY/Bellport) made two saves for the shutout win.

Lehman (1-1, 0-0 CUNYAC), who is also playing in its first season of women's soccer, was led by Samantha Dias who recorded both shots on goal and Mayra Shuguli made three saves in defeat.

The Lady Bears continue their inaugural season on the road on Thursday, September 13th, taking on borough rival Brooklyn College at 5 p.m.