Fleuriau Chateau’s Brace Lifts St. John’s Over Columbia, 2-1

Tuesday, October 3

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

6-3-2, 1-1-1

Columbia

2-5-2, 0-2-0

Columbia

St. John's (NY)

Fleuriau Chateau’s Brace Lifts St. John’s Over Columbia, 2-1

10/3/2023 10:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Red Storm attacker increases goal total to nine with a pair of strikes on Friday

QUEENS, N.Y. – A brace from redshirt junior Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau and a pair of assists from forward Miguel Diaz lifted the St. John's men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Columbia at Belson Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Fleuriau Chateau extended his goal-scoring streak to three games while finding the back of the net in five of his last six games. The Ottawa, Ontario, Canada native bumped his goal total to nine on the season, tying the most through the first 11 games since Simone Salinno tallied nine of his own to start the 2004 campaign.

Diaz recorded his third multi-assist game of the season while increasing his total to seven helpers. Of his seven assists, four of them have come on goals by Fleuriau Chateau. Midfielder Eric Danquah also logged an assist in the contest, marking his first with the Johnnies.

Goalkeeper Alec McLachlan made three saves against the Lions, turning away prime opportunities and moving to 5-2-2 on the year. Reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week Thomas Lamaille, Markus Pusztahegyi and Justin Kopay all chipped in for a 90-minute effort alongside McLachlan, providing a quality effort on the back line.

After McLachlan made a save on Will DeNight just 14 seconds into the game, midfielder Macoumba Ba powered the Johnnies' attack through the opening 10 minutes. The Dakar, Senegal native cut through Columbia defenders into open space down the left side on several occasions, setting up Danquah for a quality chance in the sixth minute before helping the Johnnies to a pair of corners early on.

Following a consistent effort in the offensive third, St. John's (6-3-2, 1-1-1 BIG EAST) broke through in the 29^th minute with its quick transition. After Martin Kozak touched a pass to Danquah, the Louisville transfer sent Diaz into open terrain down the right side. The Johnnies' assist leader drove a cross into the box, hitting Fleuriau Chateau inside the six. Entering just 41 seconds prior, the Canadian striker one-timed the pass at the right post toward the lower left corner for a 1-0 Red Storm lead.

St. John's continued to apply pressure in the winding moments of the opening frame, holding Columbia (2-5-2, 0-2-0 Ivy League) without a shot over the final 19 minutes and taking a one-goal edge into the break.

Just 4:22 into the second half, Fleuriau Chateau finished off his brace with a left-footed rip deep in the 18-yard box after reeling in a stretch pass from Diaz on the Johnnies' side of midfield to take a 2-0 advantage.

Columbia applied pressure over the next 15 minutes, but the Johnnies buckled down and turned away cross after cross to keep the visiting team tamed.

Lions' goalkeeper Michael Collodi nearly found himself in trouble after his clear attempt had major backspin. A hungry Fleuriau Chateau, with his sights set on a hat trick, charged into the right side of the 18-yard box, but was held off by Collodi with a sliding stop on the end line.

The Lions eventually broke the clean sheet in the 75^th minute as DeNight registered a shot on target with McLachlan making an incredible diving save to his left, getting a hand on the chance before Chad Baker knocked home the rebound to cut the Columbia deficit to one, 2-1.

With just over 13 minutes remaining, Red Storm freshman Camron Boumsong found a pair of prime chances inside the 18, seeing both of his shots blocked by Columbia's back line in an effort to expand the lead.

Both squads went back and forth down the stretch, exchanging high-quality opportunities, including Fleuriau Chateau's third shot of the game that nearly snuck past the defender on the short side in the 87^th minute. The Johnnies held on for the one-goal victory, outshooting Columbia, 8-6, and holding a slight 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.

St. John's will return to Belson Stadium on Saturday evening to take on BIG EAST foe Providence in a 7 p.m. tilt.