Two Second-Half Goals Sink St. John’s, 2-1, in BIG EAST Semifinals

Wednesday, November 13

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

6 p.m.

St. John's University

13-4-1, 6-2-1

Providence

14-5-0, 6-3-0

Providence

St. John's

Two Second-Half Goals Sink St. John’s, 2-1, in BIG EAST Semifinals

11/13/2019 8:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Game Notes (PDF)

Red Storm awaits NCAA Tournament fate on Monday afternoon

By: Andrew O'Connell

QUEENS, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2019) – Leading 1-0 at the half of Wednesday night's BIG EAST Semifinal at Belson Stadium, No. 14 St. John's saw RV Providence score two second-half goals to down the Red Storm, 2-1, and advance to Sunday's BIG EAST Final.

The Friars (14-5) will face regular season champion Georgetown in Sunday's title tilt on FS2. Kick-off from Washington, D.C., is scheduled for 12 p.m. on FS2.

BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Tani Oluwaseyi scored his league-leading 11^th goal of the season on Wednesday night. His 11 goals are the most by a St. John's player since Simone Salinno scored 14 times during the College Cup season of 2003. The sophomore recorded seven of the team's 10 shots on the evening.

The Red Storm (13-4-1) outshot the Friars in the first half by a 6-3 margin before Providence recorded a 13-4 edge in second-half shots.

BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Jan Hoffelner held the Friars scoreless in the first half. Luka Gavran recorded four saves in the latter stanza.

Oluwaseyi took the first five shots of the game in less than 14 minutes of action. The fifth and final of those chances put the Red Storm on the board. The sophomore took advantage of a Providence miscue in the Friars' defensive zone, using his blazing speed to track down a loose ball and create separation from the nearest defender. Providence keeper Austin Aviza came off his line to stop Oluwaseyi's initial try, but the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the year headed home the rebound and gave the Red Storm an early advantage.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, Providence leveled the score with a goal from Paulo Lima in the 50^th minute. The sophomore midfielder headed a ball inside the far post off a Friars corner kick, finding the back of the net for the sixth time in his last six games.

Following a number of chances for both sides down the stretch, Providence broke the deadlock with a goal from Davis Smith in the 87^th minute.

St. John's fired off a few last-second chances in the closing minute, including a spectacular try from Einar Lye that Aviza managed to turn aside.

The Red Storm, which now boasts a record of 13-4-1 and an RPI of six, will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Monday afternoon, as the selection show is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com.