St. John’s Clinches BIG EAST Tournament Berth in 1-0 Victory at Seton Hall

Wednesday, October 23

South Orange, N.J. (Owen T. Carroll Field)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

6-5-4, 4-1-1

Seton Hall

9-4-1, 2-3-1

St. John's (NY)

Seton Hall

St. John’s Clinches BIG EAST Tournament Berth in 1-0 Victory at Seton Hall

10/23/2024 10:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Martin Kozak scored the game-winner in the 25th minute to snap Pirates’ unbeaten record at home

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Forward Martin Kozak propelled the St. John's men's soccer team into the 2024 BIG EAST Tournament after providing a 25^th-minute strike to secure a 1-0 victory at Seton Hall on Wednesday.

With the win, the Red Storm (6-5-4, 4-1-1) also handed the Pirates (9-4-1, 2-3-1 BIG EAST) its first loss at Owen T. Carroll Field this season after winning its first seven games at home.

A clearer picture of the potential postseason seeding scenarios will come into focus over the final two games of conference play. The Red Storm has 13 points through six contests, matching Georgetown at the top of the East Division after the Hoyas drew with Villanova earlier today.

Kozak registered his team-leading fourth goal of the season with his 25^th-minute goal from the penalty dot. The Chilean striker also scored for his second-straight game while posting two shots in 45 minutes of work. Fellow attacker Jackson Gould also logged a pair of shots in the victory.

Alec McLachlan picked up his second clean sheet of the year, marking his first since blanking UAlbany on Sept. 1. The Johnnies' keeper made two saves in the contest while reeling in over a dozen crossed attempts from Seton Hall.

The Johnnies and Pirates battled back and forth over the first 10 minutes with shots by Bjorn Nikolajewski and Eric Danquah. The Red Storm continued to hold Seton Hall without a shot through the opening 23 minutes of the match.

McLachlan came up with a clutch stop in the 24^th minute to keep the game scoreless. After Tim Strobeck broke free and past the Johnnies' defense, the Stockport, England product came off his line and closed down the angle. McLachlan sprawled and deflected the first attempt before Nikolajewski prevented a cross from Strobeck from getting to the middle and cleared the ball.

Just 80 seconds later, the Red Storm surged with a high-quality chance inside the box. Julian Jakopovic sent a corner into the six, meeting the feet of Kozak. The Johnnies' forward tried to one-touch the opportunity on frame, seeing the chance deflected off the defender and out of play. The attempt forced a challenge by the Johnnies and after review, the center official deemed a handball in the box by Seton Hall to give St. John's a penalty kick.

Lining up at the penalty dot, Kozak slowly weaved up to the ball and fired a low shot with his right foot off of Soren Jensen's hands and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 25^th minute.

The Red Storm continued to lock down Seton Hall over the final 20 minutes of the opening half, surrendering just two shots over that span.

St. John's nearly doubled its lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first stanza. After Miguel Diaz led Gould down the right side into open space, the Red Storm attacker ripped a right-footed shot across his body and forced Jensen to make a diving save at the left post.

The Johnnies remained calm, cool and collected to open the second half, despite increased pressure from Seton Hall. McLachlan punched away a lasered attempt from the Pirates' Til Kauschke in the 51^st minute to maintain the advantage. The back line of Godwin Partey, Thomas Lamaille, Nikolajewski and Jakopovic kept pace with Seton Hall, making several clear attempts on stellar crosses deep in the Pirates' attacking third. The foursome all logged 90 minutes of action in the victory.

Gould produced another quality chance after fielding a pass from at the top of the box in the 63^rd minute. The Clifton Park, N.Y., native tapped the ball to himself and ripped a chance wide of the frame.

Just six minutes later, Seton Hall's Nico Rubio tried to utilize his speed down the right side, only to see his attempt blocked away after the Red Storm collapsed to protect the net in the 70^th minute.

St. John's continued to stifle the Pirates from getting inside the 18-yard box, preventing cross after cross from getting into dangerous territory over the final 20 minutes. The Red Storm's McLachlan corralled a final attempt with under 30 seconds to go to clinch a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament.

The Red Storm will return to Queens for the final three games of the 2024 regular season, beginning with a homecoming weekend showdown against UConn on Saturday. Kick-off from Belson Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on BEDN.