Andrew Coen - After completing her sophomore season at Duke in 2007, Holtsville native C.J. Ludemann decided to find a new collegiate soccer home.  She was eventually drawn to explore St. John’s, due in large part to the encouragement of two Long Island friends, who happened to be playing for the St. John’s Women’s Soccer Program.  Luckily for the Red Storm, Ludemann listened to the advice of her former youth soccer teammates, Tara Mendoza and Courtney Lane and took her soccer prowess to the Queens campus.  Now, the three Long Islanders have become a key factor for the Red Storm’s 15-Member Senior Class’ first ever NCAA College Cup run.

“I wouldn’t change my first two years [at Duke] because it taught me a lot, but coming [to St. John’s], the soccer has been great, the coaching staff has been great, and I have gained so many friends that I know I’ll call up when I’m like 85 years old and they will still be my friends,” said Ludemann on how positive her experience has been playing for the Red Storm. “Every one of these girls I can look at and be like, ‘that’s not just a friend; that is one of my best friends’.”

St. John’s (13-6-1) received an at-large spot into the 64-team NCAA College Cup Monday evening and will face Virginia at Penn State on the evening of Friday, November 13th. The Red Storm received its first-ever NCAA bid in the program’s 23-year existence thanks in large part to the play of the Long Island Senior Trio of Ludemann, Mendoza, and Lane, all of whom registered clutch goals throughout the season.  Perhaps the most important tally came from Mendoza in overtime of a Big East Quarterfinal Game against Georgetown, when she took a feed from Ludemann and fired in a 30-yard shot to give St. John’s a 1-0 win that firmly supplanted the Red Storm’s NCAA bid.

Bringing the St. John’s program to the next level has been particularly special for Mendoza, who grew up 10 miles from the Big East school.  Growing up in Valley Stream, Mendoza had the opportunity to attend many Red Storm women’s games with her father. “Playing here is one of the best decisions I have made in my life,” said Mendoza, a Valley Stream Central High School Graduate who, along with Lane, played club soccer for the three-time State Cup Champions ISA East Meadow Magic.

Reaching the NCAA College Cup has always been a major goal for St. John’s, but it has especially taken on new importance this season with 15 seniors on the roster. “It’s our last time to make our mark and we wanted to give it our all and hopefully make this unit the most memorable,” said Lane, a Westbury native and Clarke High School Graduate, who registered game winning goals this season against Louisville and South Florida.

Ludemann, Mendoza, and Lane, along with their Red Storm teammates worked extra hard to prepare for the 2009 season, including staying on the St. John’s campus during the summer months for 7:30 a.m. workouts. “We gave up our whole summer to get ready for this season and I don’t think any single person would regret it right now,” said Ludemann, a St. Anthony’s Graduate, whose club team Commack ISA were four-time state champions.

St. John’s will kickoff its first ever NCAA College Cup Game against Virginia at 5 p.m. Friday, November 13th at Jeffrey Field on the campus of Penn State. A victory by St. John’s on Friday would advance them to the second round on Sunday, November 15th against the winner of Penn State and Colgate.

No matter how long the Red Storm’s NCAA run lasts, the three key Long Island seniors of Ludemann, Mendoza and Lane have surely made their mark on the St. John’s Women’s Soccer Program.

UPDATE:  The Red Storm Women's Soccer Team lost to Virginia in their only NCAA College Cup game.  The game came down to the bitter end, but not on the side of St. John's.  The St. John's team played a scoreless game in regulation, but lost 3 - 1 in penalty kicks.

**Photos are courtesy of St. John's. Main photo features C.J. Ludemann.  Second photo features Tara Mendoza.  Last photo features Courtney Lane.**