Chandler Named Defensive Player of the Week, Lye Gets Honor Roll Nod

QUEENS, N.Y. (Sept. 16, 2019) – After helping the St. John's men's soccer team match a school record this past week with five consecutive wins to start the season, Matt Chandler and Einar Lye have been recognized by the BIG EAST for their efforts. Chandler was named the conference's defensive player of the week while Lye earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, it was announced this afternoon.

Chandler is the second St. John's player to be named the league's top defender so far this season, as fellow sophomore Luke Hansen took home the award on Sept. 2 following shutout victories against Appalachian State and NC State.

Chandler played the full 180 minutes last week in a pair home victories for St. John's, as the Johnnies downed Iona, 3-2, on Tuesday night before shutting out Penn, 1-0, on Friday.

In five opportunities this season, St. John's has kept its opponent off the scoresheet four times. The Red Storm's four shutouts in five games have already matched the team's total from all of 2018.

Iona, which became the first team to score on St. John's this season, netted just one of its goals in non-penalty kick situations. On Friday, Penn, was limited to just two shots on goal, both of which came late in the second half.

On Tuesday night against Iona, Lye put forth one of the most prolific offensive performances by a St. John's player in recent memory. The sophomore from Undheim, Norway, scored two goals and assisted on a third, becoming the first Johnnie since Sebastian Alvarado-Ralph in 2005 to record five points in a single game. Lye assisted on Niko Petridis' goal to open the scoring in the 12^th minute before scoring twice in the span of just 53 seconds early in the second half. His last goal would prove to be the game-winner for the Red Storm.

A few days later against Penn, Lye took a team-high three shots, two of which were on target.

On the season, Lye ranks second on the team in goals (2), points (5) and shots (9).

The Red Storm returns to action this evening, traveling to Manhattan for a 7 p.m. showdown with Columbia. A win would set a new program record for the longest winning streak to start a season. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

St. John's University Athletics

Chandler Named Defensive Player of the Week, Lye Gets Honor Roll Nod

Players Mentioned

Matt Chandler

Luke Hansen

Einar Lye

Niko Petridis

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