Max McNulty Nets Two in St. John’s 2-1 Victory over Lehigh

Thursday, August 24

Bethlehem, Pa. (Ulrich Sports Complex)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Lehigh

0-1-0, 0-0-0

St. John's (NY)

Lehigh

Max McNulty Nets Two in St. John’s 2-1 Victory over Lehigh

8/24/2023 10:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The graduate transfer found back of the net in the 26th and 75th minutes

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Despite being down to 10 players for the final 23 minutes, graduate transfer Max McNulty netted the game-winner in the 75^th minute to lift the St. John's men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Lehigh on Thursday night at Ulrich Sports Complex.

The Birmingham, England native made an emphatic Red Storm debut on Thursday, tallying a pair of goals in the season opener. Alejandro Rabell, who also made his St. John's debut, and Miguel Diaz logged one assist apiece in the contest.

With the win, the Johnnies (1-0) secured its first road season-opening win since 2019 when they toppled Appalachian State, 2-0. The Red Storm also evened the all-time series with Lehigh (0-1) at two apiece.

St. John's produced seven corner kicks in the game to Lehigh's two. The Red Storm also generated more chances, outshooting the home team, 15-5.

The Johnnies pressured the Mountain Hawks through the first seven minutes of the match, seeing an Antek Sienkiel shot blocked and a header from Max McNulty saved by a Lehigh defender, both from inside the six-yard box.

Both teams exchanged possessions over the next 20 minutes before the Red Storm found the back of the net in the 26^th minute. After defender Lenny Cidolit made a sliding block on Lehigh's Yusef Gueye in the box, the Johnnies quickly turned on the jets with Macoumba Ba propelling Rabell down the right side. The NJIT transfer chipped a pass to a streaking McNulty, who headed home St. John's first goal of the season.

At the half, St. John's outshot the Mountain Hawks, 8-2, while holding possession in their attacking third and taking four corners in the opening frame.

The Johnnies surged out of the gate in the second half as Juston Rainey broke free down the left side into open space before hitting Tyler Morck in the box. The freshman midfielder moved into the six-yard box with the ball at his feet but was quickly shut out by Lehigh defenders.

The Mountain Hawks halted the Red Storm's momentum shortly after as Trey Sheeler headed home a corner set piece from Austen Carranza in the 54^th minute to knot the score at one.

Lehigh continued to pressure the Red Storm, eventually forcing the Johnnies into trouble and causing the Red Storm to play down a man with just over 20 minutes to play. However, St. John's quickly swung momentum back in its favor despite the daunting task of playing with just 10 men.

In the 74^th minute, McNulty caused a turnover just outside the box before chipping the ball to a cutting Diaz. The crafty forward tapped a pass back to McNulty, who bent in his second goal of the game and gave the Johnnies a 2-1 edge.

Lehigh did not go down quietly as Sam Davis nearly put home an equalizer in the final seconds, but Antonio Biggs cleared the shot at the goal line to hold on for the victory.

Goalkeeper Alec McLachlan made his St. John's debut in net, tallying one save in his first win of the season.

St. John's will remain on the road, heading to Piscataway, N.J., to take on reigning Big Ten Champion Rutgers at 7 p.m. on Monday evening.