Third-Seeded St. John’s Shuts Out Sixth-Seeded Seton Hall, 2-0

Saturday, November 9

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

5 p.m.

St. John's University

9-5-5, 5-1-2

#6 Seton Hall

11-6-1, 4-3-1

Seton Hall

St. John's (NY)

Third-Seeded St. John’s Shuts Out Sixth-Seeded Seton Hall, 2-0

11/9/2024 8:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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The Red Storm reaches semifinals for first time since 2019, will face No. 2 Providence

QUEENS, N.Y. – For the first time since 2019, the St. John's men's soccer team secured its spot in the BIG EAST Soccer Championship semifinal after the third-seeded Johnnies shut out sixth-seeded Seton Hall, 2-0, at Belson Stadium on Saturday. The Red Storm (9-5-5) will head down to Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., to face second-seeded Providence.

Junior defender Julian Jakopovic provided the game-winner at 24:43 of the first half. His goal time was identical to the penalty strike scored by Martin Kozak in the team's 1-0 regular season victory over the Pirates (11-6-1), 1-0, on Oct. 23. Jakopovic also logged a full 90 minutes for the 16^th straight contest and has played a team-best 1,605 minutes of the possible 1,620.

Thomas Lamaille registered his first career goal with the Red Storm with a strike in the 84^th minute. The French defender also registered 87 minutes of work in the victory, putting two of his three shot attempts on target.

Red Storm goalkeeper Alec McLachlan turned away both of the Pirates' shots on frame. The Stockport, England native picked up his second straight shutout and third clean sheet in his last four starts. The Johnnies' keeper has also not allowed more than one goal in a contest since Sept. 24, a stretch of nine consecutive starts.

Miguel Diaz provided the lone assist on Jakopovic's game-winning goal while Nigel Griffith earned a helper on Lamaille's second-half strike.

The Red Storm moved to 5-0-0 against BIG EAST opponents when holding a lead after the 75^th minute. St. John's has won all nine of its games when outshooting its opponent this season, tallying 11 shots to Seton Hall's eight.

After back-and-forth exchanges through the first 14 minutes, the Johnnies surged with a flurry of shots heading into the 15^th minute. Lamaille and Camron Boumsong fired away from just outside the box, seeing both of their shots blocked before Tyler Morck ripped an attempt wide left.

The Red Storm continued to pace play until the 25^th minute. After a cross from Justin Kopay pinballed around the 18-yard box, the headed clear fell to Diaz's feet. The junior midfielder dangled and ripped a shot that was blocked before one-touching the rebound over to Jakopovic. The German defender lasered a low shot across his body for the left-footed finish and a 1-0 lead.

The Johnnies' back line stifled the Pirates throughout the first half, preventing the sixth seed from putting any shots on target. Seton Hall did muster one shot attempt in the stanza, however, a low-quality chance from a falling Til Kauschke at the top of the box was blocked in the 26^th minute. St. John's also boxed out a trio of Pirates on the ensuing possession, getting the first touch each time and preventing its visitors from recording an attempt.

Out of the break, St. John's slowed the tempo and controlled the pace. The Johnnies nearly doubled its lead entering the 50^th minute of play as Diaz settled a leading pass from Morck down the left side. With an assist already in the game, Diaz ripped a shot over the keeper's hands and off the crossbar from 12 yards out.

The Red Storm repeatedly contended dangerous opportunities from the Pirates over the next 20 minutes. Seton Hall's transition play kept the Johnnies on their toes, but defenders Antonio Biggs, Bjorn Nikolajewski and Godwin Partey closed the gaps to keep the visitors at bay.

McLachlan corralled a long shot from Hugo Gerbore in the 57^th minute before turning away a chance from Jon Vignir Petursson in the 65^th minute.

St. John's weathered four shot opportunities from Seton Hall in a span of 3:30, forcing three of the attempts wide of the cage and stuffing one opportunity.

The Red Storm sealed the game in the 84^th minute with a 2-on-1 transition into the open terrain. Lamaille chipped a pass to himself over the outstretched leg of a Seton Hall defender before turning on the jets. The Villejuif, France native bent a shot on target and saw a rebound ricochet to Griffith. The Johnnies' attacker one-timed his attempt on frame, seeing his chance turned away again by Matias Molina. However, Lamaille tucked away the redirection and lifted the Johnnies to a 2-0 victory.

Third-seeded St. John's will head down to Boyds for its semifinal matchup against the Friars on Thursday. The 5 p.m. slate will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network, powered by FloFC.

The 2019 team received a bye in the opening round as the No. 2 seed and advanced automatically into the semifinals when the BIG EAST Soccer Championship fielded six teams. The 2017 squad was the last team to advance out of the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over No. 6 Creighton.