No. 10 St. John’s Pounds Villanova, 4-0

Saturday, October 12

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

11-1-0, 4-0-0

Villanova

7-4-1, 1-2-1

Villanova

St. John's

10/12/2019 10:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Red Storm hangs up four goals on Wildcats defense that ranked third in the nation

By: Andrew O'Connell

QUEENS, N.Y. (Oct. 12, 2019) – Coming into Saturday's match at Belson Stadium, Villanova had surrendered just three goals in 1,021 minutes of action in 2019. No. 10 St. John's needed just 79 minutes to more than double that total, as the Red Storm remained perfect in BIG EAST play with 4-0 win over the Wildcats.

The Johnnies improved to 4-0-0 in BIG EAST play for the first time since 2003, a season that saw the Red Storm reach the national title game. Overall, St. John's moved to 11-1-0, marking the first time the Johnnies have won 11 of their opening 12 decisions since 1993, a season that began with a 21-game unbeaten streak.

The Red Storm's fourth consecutive win to start conference play maintained the Johnnies' two-point edge over Georgetown in the BIG EAST standings. Providence, Creighton and Seton Hall are currently locked in a three-way tie for third with 2-2 records.

"We're happy to get a BIG EAST win," said Dr. David Masur, who notched his 419^th career victory. "It's great for the guys and great for a lot of different people to get in the game and really make contributions."

Einar Lye recorded his second multi-goal outing of the season for St. John's, adding insurance tallies in the 65^th and 79^th minutes to help put away the game. The sophomore from Undheim, Norway, also scored twice against Iona on Sept. 10.

Skage Simonsen netted the game-winner, heading home a corner kick in the 35^th minute to give St. John's an early edge that it would not relinquish.

Jared Juleau registered his first collegiate goal, finishing a beautiful back-and-forth sequence with Tani Oluwaseyi in the 53^rd minute. The helper was one of two on the evening for Oluwaseyi. Brandon Knapp, Brandon Duarte and Luke Hansen also logged assists on Saturday night.

Luka Gavran and Jan Hoffelner combined to record the team's eighth shutout of the season. Gavran, who played the final 45 minutes, made two of the team's three saves. The third belonged to a field player, as Duarte turned aside a shot on the goal line in the second half to help preserve the clean sheet.

St. John's thoroughly dominated the possession game, outshooting the Wildcats, 17-6, including a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. The Red Storm also earned seven corner kicks while allowing none.

Villanova keeper Carson Williams, who entered the contest ranked second nationally in save percentage (.921) and third in goals against average (0.26) made five saves on the evening.

The Red Storm got more than its fair share of chances in the early going against one of the nation's stingiest defenses, taking a 3-0 lead in shots after just six minutes. Williams came away with saves on two of those tries.

After Villanova began to increase its possession percentage as the half wore on, the Red Storm struck first in the 35^th minute. Knapp sent an out-swinging corner kick to the near side of the six-yard box for Simonsen, who headed it across his body and into the far side of the cage beyond the reach of Williams.

"Fantastic first goal from Skage, that really opened the game and made them press forward and that's what we want to do," said Masur. "We're hopeful to get a set piece goal and hopeful to get a head ball in the six and we did, so that's a big bonus for us."

The Red Storm took that 1-0 lead into the locker room after outshooting the Wildcats, 8-2, in the opening frame.

St. John's continued to apply pressure in the early going of the second half, upping its lead to a pair following a fantastic goal-scoring sequence between Oluwaseyi and Juleau. Lye kicked off the play with a pass down the left side for Oluwaseyi. Oluwaseyi played it toward the middle for Juleau, who then played it back wide to Oluwaseyi. Oluwaseyi subsequently drew the attention of several defenders before sending it back to Juleau one last time, as the freshman buried it to put the Red Storm ahead by two in the 53^rd minute.

Juleau became the 13^th different member of the Red Storm to score a goal this season.

Lye then headed home his third and fourth goals of the year in the 65^th and 79^th minute, respectively, to seal the decision. The first involved a series of skillful passes, as Hansen played a ball down the right side for Duarte, who crossed it into the box for a waiting Lye. The second goal resulted from brute force, as Oluwaseyi rocketed a shot off the hand of Williams to a waiting Lye, who banged it home and bumped the Red Storm lead to four.

St. John's will return to action on Saturday night in Omaha, taking on Creighton at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live on GoCreighton.com.