St. John’s Falls to Hofstra, 16-12, in Home Opener

Saturday, February 25

Queens N.Y. (DaSilva Memorial Field)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

0-3

Hofstra

2-3

Hofstra

St. John's

St. John’s Falls to Hofstra, 16-12, in Home Opener

2/25/2023 5:15:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Brian Kelly tallied a career-high eight points

QUEENS, N.Y.- The St. John's lacrosse team dropped its home opener to Hofstra by a score of 16-12 at DaSilva Memorial Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Storm began to mount a comeback in the fourth, scoring six goals in the final period, but the Pride was able to hold on for its second victory of the season.

Sophomore attackman Brian Kelly headlined the Johnnies' offensive efforts on Saturday, scoring four goals and adding four assists for a career-best eight points. Kelly's first assist of the day gave him 50 points for his career, becoming the fastest player to 50 career points since Joe Madsen in program history in just 17 appearances. Kelly has registered multiple points in all three games this season.

Connor Kalmus notched his second game of the season with three or more goals, scoring four times against Hofstra. Kalmus' four goals match his career-high he set against Villanova on April 2, 2022. Kalmus paced the squad with 11 shots on Saturday.

Caleb Zuhoski was the third Johnnie to score three or more goals on Saturday afternoon, logging his first career hat-trick and chipping in two assists for a career-best five points at DaSilva Memorial Field.

Saturday marked the first time three players have scored three or more goals in a game since the Red Storm's 17-14 win over Fairfield on March 22, 2022.

In total, the three starting attackmen tallied 11 of the 12 goals scored in the contest and accounted for six of the eight assists.

Sean Duffy logged his second straight game with a goal, bringing his season tally to four. Caiden Vlasimsky added a helper, extending his streak of games with an assist to three, and Bobby Seel added an assist against the Pride.

In net, Kyle Munson totaled double-digit saves for the third-straight contest, stopping 14 shots and corralling one groundball.

Hofstra (2-3) struck first in the opening quarter when Gerard Kane found James Madsen to give the Pride the 1-0 lead less than a minute into the contest.

St. John's (0-3) quickly responded when Zuhoski dished to Kalmus who calmly buried the scoring chance to even the score at one with 13:07 to go in the initial period.

After a Hofstra score, the Johnnies tied it at two, courtesy of Zuhoski's first tally of the contest on an assist from Kelly for his 50^th career point.

The Pride scored the next three to take a multi-goal lead at 5-2 before Kelly scored his first of the afternoon to make the score 5-3 after one quarter of play.

Hofstra controlled most of the second period, going on a 4-0 run to extend the lead to 9-3 in favor of the visitors with 8:45 to go in the first half.

Kelly put a stop to the Pride's offensive outburst with his second goal of the contest with 1:14 to go in the second, and both teams headed to the locker room with Hofstra leading, 9-4.

The Pride scored six straight goals in the first six minutes of the third quarter to open the game up, 15-9.

The Red Storm went a quick 2-0 spurt to end the third as Kalmus scored his second of the contest with 6:56 to go before Duffy found the back of the net with 38 seconds to in the period. Heading into the fourth, the Pride held a 15-6 edge.

After a Pride score, its last of the game, the Johnnies rallied, scoring six straight in the fourth. Kalmus, Kelly and Zuhoski all scored twice in the most productive quarter for the Red Storm offense this season. The comeback effort fell short, and the Pride held on to win, 16-12, on Saturday.

Next up, St. John's will hit the road for its first midweek contest of the season when it travels to Piscataway, N.J., to take on No. 13/14 Rutgers at 3 p.m.