St. John’s Takes BIG EAST Opener, 1-0, from Seton Hall

Saturday, September 15

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7:00 P.M.

St. John's University

4-3-0

Seton Hall

2-2-1

Seton Hall

St. John's

Lenny Wilson made a season-high five saves in his second shutout of the year

St. John’s Takes BIG EAST Opener, 1-0, from Seton Hall

9/15/2018 9:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Matt Forster’s 10th minute tally gives Red Storm three points to begin conference play

The St. John's men's soccer team took its annual meeting with local rival Seton Hall, 1-0, on Saturday night at Belson Stadium, kicking off BIG EAST play with a victory on its home turf.

The victory marked the third-straight season and the fourth time in the last five years that St. John's (4-3-0) has beaten Seton Hall (2-2-1) by a score of 1-0. In 40 all-time meeting against the Pirates, the most frequently played opponent in St. John's history, the Red Storm now owns an all-time edge of 25-12-3.

The Johnnies are now unbeaten in their last four BIG EAST openers.

Matt Forster recorded his fourth goal of the season, finding the back of the net in the 10^th minute off a long pass from freshman Brandon Knapp. Forster's four goals on the season mark a new career high for the junior midfielder, while Knapp's helper marked the second of his young and promising St. John's tenure. Both of Knapp's assists this season have come on game winners.

Senior goalkeeper Lenny Wilson picked up his second clean sheet victory in as many tries, making a season-high five saves and improving his record to 3-1-0 on the campaign.

The Red Storm needed just one shot attempt to get on the board, as Forster struck in the 10^th minute on the team's first chance of the game. Knapp possessed on the other side of midfield to start the sequence before sending a towering pass to the top of the box for a streaking Forster. The junior midfielder beat out his defender for the ensuing 50-50 ball and subsequently chipped it over the head of a charging Andreas Nota, putting the Johnnies ahead, 1-0.

St. John's continued to apply pressure after scoring the go-ahead goal, firing off five shots, three of which were on target, in the span of just seven minutes. Nota stepped up for Seton Hall on each occasion; however, keeping the Pirates' deficit at a single goal.

After Wilson made a save in the opening minute of play in the second half to preserve the St. John's lead, the Johnnies fired off two shots on goal in the span of just 20 seconds in the 48^th minute. On the second shot, Nota made a highlight reel save at point blank range, denying Skage Simonsen in the six-yard box and keeping the Pirates in the contest.

In need of an equalizer, Seton Hall tried to press the issue in the Red Storm's defensive zone, but the Johnnies stood tall. The St. John's backline of Knapp, Johan Aquilon, Kadeem Joseph and Tiago Teixeira neutralized a number of Seton Hall threats in the final half. Joseph, a junior college transfer from Herkimer Community College, made his Red Storm debut on Saturday.

Athit Berg and Mauricio Rivas each played the full 90 minutes in the defensive midfield for St. John's, helping the team record its second shutout in its last three tries.

St. John's returns to action on Friday night, traveling to Cincinnati for a 7 p.m. showdown with Xavier. The game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network.