St. John’s Falls to Princeton, 3-2

Tuesday, September 19

Princeton, N.J. (Roberts Soccer Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

4-3-1, 0-1-0

Princeton

2-2-0, 0-0-0

St. John's (NY)

Princeton

9/19/2023 9:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Macoumba Ba and Connor Mucchetti tally goals for the Johnnies

PRINCETON, N.J. – The St. John's men's soccer team fell to Princeton, 3-2, at Roberts Field on Tuesday evening.

Midfielder Macoumba Ba registered his third goal of the season, marking his first away from the penalty dot. Sophomore Connor Mucchetti netted his first collegiate goal in Tuesday's contest, pushing his point total to four on the season.

Thomas Lamaille recorded his first assist with the Red Storm while Max McNulty tallied his fourth of the year on a magnificent pass to Mucchetti in the second half. Newcomers Brady Geho and Godwin Partey made their first NCAA Division I start as both cracked the starting lineup on Tuesday.

The Red Storm (4-3-1) produced an early chance inside the 18-yard box, as Ba found a cutting Lenny Cidolit, who knocked a header just past the right post in the seventh minute.

Moments later, Lamaille headed a redirected clear into the middle, finding a streaking Ba just outside the six-yard box. The Louisville transfer beat the Princeton defender to the ball and headed home the opening goal at 7:25 for a 1-0 Red Storm lead.

On the restart, Princeton quickly responded as Daniel Ittycheria found the back of the net just 57 seconds later at 8:22.

The tandem of Ba and Cidolit continued to apply pressure over the next several minutes as the Johnnies' first goal scorer booted a shot on net in the 12^th minute, followed by a prime opportunity that went just wide from the Red Storm defender two minutes later.

After both teams cooled off over the next 16 minutes, the Tigers surged with three shots in a span of 15 seconds as Ba, Ignacio Antequera Sanchez and Antonio Biggs all prevented Princeton from putting shots on net in the 31^st minute.

Entering the break deadlocked at one, St. John's tallied two corner kicks while holding the Tigers to none in the opening frame. The two squads also recorded three shots apiece through the first 45 minutes.

Princeton's Ittycheria gave the Tigers its first lead of the game in the 53^rd minute, finding the back of the net for a 2-1 edge.

With the Tigers continuing to pressure over the next seven minutes, the Red Storm turned the tides in its favor with McNulty using his shiftiness and size. The English striker broke down the right side and created space on Princeton's defender. After having his initial cross blocked, McNulty secured possession and found Mucchetti at the back post, leaving the sophomore with a wide-open net for a tap-in equalizer in the 60^th minute for a 2-2 tie.

The Johnnies kept Princeton in its own defensive third over the next 26 minutes, holding the host squad to just one shot over the span. However, Princeton took the lead in the 87^th minute on a rebound goal from Ian Nunez.

McNulty gave the Red Storm one final chance 39 seconds later on a deep cross from Camron Boumsong and headed a shot just wide of the left post. The Tigers staved off St. John's for the one-goal victory.

The Johnnies will return to Belson Stadium on Saturday evening when No. 4 Akron makes its way to Queens for a BIG EAST matchup at 7 p.m.