St. John’s Blanks Columbia, 1-0

Monday, September 13

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

4-2-0

Columbia

1-2-1

Columbia

St. John's

Dr. Dave Masur before his 431st career victory

Lucas Bartlett scored his second goal of the year and recorded at least one point for the third straight game.

Matt Forster recorded one shot in 45 minutes of action.

Matt Chandler helped the Red Storm defensive unit pitch its third shutout of the season.

Rafael Bustamante played the full 90 for the first time this season.

Lucas Bartlett after scoring his game-winner.

The Red Storm celebrates Lucas Bartlett's decisive goal in the first half.

Einar Lye battles for a ball in the box.

Ethan Shaw earned his second straight starting nod.

Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau entered in the second half and took a shot.

Micaah Garnette took three shots, two of which were on target.

Wesley Leggett came off the bench and logged 23 minutes against the Lions.

9/13/2021 9:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Johnnies will enter conference play having won four of five

By: Andrew O'Connell

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's soccer team closed its two-week homestand with a win on Monday night, defeating Columbia, 1-0, at Belson Stadium.

With the victory, St. John's will enter its BIG EAST opener on Saturday night at Xavier with a record of 4-2-0.

Graduate transfer Lucas Bartlett provided the offense for the Johnnies on Monday, heading home the game-winner in the 43rd minute. Bartlett has now recorded a point in three straight games and four of his last five overall.

Atila Ashrafi registered his second assist of the season on Bartlett's game-winner. Ashrafi's other helper also came on a game-winner, as he set up Brandon Knapp's decisive tally against UAlbany on Aug. 30.

Luka Gavran registered his third clean sheet in five opportunities at home this season. The redshirt junior from Hamilton, Ont., was not credited with an official save, but lowered his goals against average to 0.83 on the campaign. Bartlett, Matt Chandler, Rafael Bustamante and Ethan Shaw all logged a full 90 minutes and helped anchor efforts in the defensive end of the pitch.

Einar Lye took a game-high four shots while freshman Micaah Garnette tallied three chances, two of which were on target, in 25 minutes of action. As a team, St. John's outshot Columbia, 18-7, including a 7-0 edge in shots on goal.

St. John's controlled the possession from nearly the opening whistle, but did not record its first quality scoring chances until the 12th minute when Matt Forster put a shot on target before Knapp rang the rebound off the right woodwork.

That stop on Forster was the first in a number of stellar saves in the opening half by Columbia goalkeeper Michael Collodi, who denied Ashrafi in the 31st before making a diving rejection on Garnette in the 34th.

After several close calls, St. John's finally broke through in the 43rd minute. The goal resulted from a set piece, as Ashrafi sent a right-footed cross to the top of the six for Bartlett. The 6-foot-3 center back elevated over the opposition and headed it home for his second goal of the season.

St. John's nearly added onto its lead in the 51^st minute, as Lye had a shot blocked in front before Andrew Bennett sent the rebound toward a seemingly unguarded target. A Columbia defender, however, made a clutch play at the goal line to clear the threat and keep the deficit at one.

The Red Storm continued to push the pace over the remainder of the half, but was unable to add an insurance marker. The Johnnies' defensive unit held tough; however, limiting the Lions' looks at the cage and helping secure the 1-0 victory.

The Red Storm's BIG EAST slate will begin on Saturday night in Cincinnati when the Johnnies take on Xavier for the first time since 2019. The Musketeers are 5-1 overall this season with a 4-0 record at home. Their only loss came on the road, 1-0, at then-No. 1 Indiana.