St. John’s to Open 2023 Season Against Manhattan at West Islip High School

Saturday, February 11

West Islip, N.Y. (West Islip Stadium)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

Manhattan

St. John’s to Open 2023 Season Against Manhattan at West Islip High School

2/10/2023 11:33:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse

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Red Storm ready for neutral site battle on Long Island to kick-off the year

QUEENS, N.Y. — The St. John's lacrosse team will get its season underway on Saturday, when it faces the 2022 reigning MAAC Champions Manhattan at 1 p.m. at West Islip High School on Long Island.

Tickets for the opener are $5 and can be purchased at the gate, cash only. The game will be streamed by the Long Island Lacrosse Journal, with Mike Winkoff on the call.

The contest will mark the beginning of Justin Turri Era for the Red Storm, who was named the fourth head coach in program history on June 17, 2022. The Johnnies new lead man arrives after successful coaching stops at Michigan, Harvard, Army and Providence and a decorated playing career, where he won a national title at Duke in 2010. He will make his head coaching debut in familiar territory, as Turri is an alumnus of West Islip High School.

St. John's embarks on the 2023 campaign after finishing 2-12 last season. The Red Storm are set to return seven starters, led by Brian Kelly. The attackman broke the St. John's freshman record for points during his rookie campaign logging 44 points (24 G's, 20 A's). The Red Hook, N.Y., native averaged 3.14 points per game, which ranked 10^th nationally among NCAA Division I freshman.

After starting all 14 games between the pipes last season, Kaden Quirk is back for his sophomore season. The goaltender also broke a program freshman record logging 167 saves during his rookie year. The sophomore will be joined by returning experienced defenseman- Corey Hall, Braeden Pratt and Jack McCarthy, who all started 11 games or more for the Red Storm backline last year.

A slew of 18 talented newcomers have joined the Red Storm roster for the upcoming season, including an accomplished group of seven transfers. NCAA Division III Second Team All-American Sean Duffy makes his way to Queens, after recording 61 points (44 G's, 17 A's) in his final year at Hampden-Sydney. Jack Schirtzer will look to bolster the Johnnies' defensive unit, after making two appearances with eventual 2022 National Champion Maryland.

Last year, the two New York City schools met for the first-time ever, as a four-goal third quarter lifted St. John's to a 9-7 victory. Jake Oemcke paced the Johnnies at the "X" winning 17 face-offs and scooping 13 groundballs, both career high's. Quirk was stellar in net, allowing a season-low seven goals against the Jaspers.

Manhattan is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years. The Jaspers captured the 2022 MAAC Tournament title with an 8-7 win over St. Bonaventure and fell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to Vermont.

Turri won't be the only first-time head coach on the sidelines Saturday, Manhattan promoted John Odierna to the helm in June. The Jaspers roster features three 2023 All-MAAC Preseason selections in Kyle Gucwa, Christian Clifford and Tadhg O' Riordan.

Saturday marks the Johnnies first neutral site game at a Long Island high school since it participated in the Battle of Bethpage on Apr. 6, 2013, when then-No. 10/14 St. John's fell to Georgetown in overtime, 14-13.