St. John’s Falls to Princeton, 2-1

Tuesday, September 10

Queens, N.Y. (Belson Stadium)

7 p.m.

St. John's University

2-2-2, 0-0-0

Princeton

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Princeton

St. John's (NY)

9/10/2024 9:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Dechlyn Hauge registers second goal of the season on Tuesday

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's soccer team fell to Princeton, 2-1, at Belson Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Freshman Dechlyn Hauge netted his second goal of the season after finding twine in the 39^th minute. The Norwegian product played 27 minutes off the bench while scoring on his lone shot of the night.

Five Johnnies registered two shots in the contest, three of which – Antonio Biggs, Camron Boumsong and Bjorn Nikolajewski – all play on the defensive side of the ball. The Red Storm outshot the Tigers, 13-8, in the contest.

The Johnnies (2-2-2) came out swinging with an early set piece, setting up the Johnnies' back line for a pair of opportunities. Julian Jakopovic swung in a pass from 20 yards out before the redirect bounced to the feet of Nikolajewski. The Berlin, Germany native ripped a low shot on frame and the rebound ricocheted to a cutting Biggs, who tapped his attempt just left of the post in the fourth minute.

The Red Storm continued to create chances with a shot attempt by Nikolajewski in the seventh minute and earned another corner kick 10 minutes later. Princeton (1-2-0) countered quickly and broke the scoreless tie with a goal from Kevin Kelley in the 19^th minute.

The Tigers doubled its lead 11 minutes later as Kelley fed Daniel Ittycheria deep in the 18-yard box. The forward found the back of the net on a sharp angle to take a 2-0 lead through 30 minutes of play.

The Johnnies slashed their deficit in half before intermission, utilizing a set piece with just over five minutes remaining in the half. St. John's Jakopovic crossed his set piece from just outside the 18 and found a leaping Biggs. The senior defender saw his headed attempt blocked by the Princeton defender's noggin only for the ball to drop at Hauge's feet. The freshman attacker booted his first attempt of the evening past the keeper and out of reach from the sliding Tiger in the 39^th minute to pull within one, 2-1.

Princeton came out of the intermission and controlled the first 13 minutes of the second half. Red Storm goalkeeper Alec McLachlan turned away the Tigers' first chance of the stanza, reeling in a shot through traffic in the 52^nd minute. A minute later, the visitors rocketed another attempt, only to see the Johnnies' backline block the shot.

St. John's gained momentum over the next seven minutes earning a prime shot in the 59^th minute. Midfielder Tyler Morck threaded a pass in between two Tigers' defenders to a streaking Macoumba Ba down the left side. The Senegal product took two touches and fired a low shot towards the right post but saw Khamari Hadaway punch away the opportunity.

The Red Storm applied heavy pressure on Princeton as Jackson Gould forced a turnover in the attacking third, spun around the defense and lasered an attempt that sailed just over the crossbar in the 73^rd minute.

The Johnnies continued its onslaught of chances with under five minutes to go. Nigel Griffith broke through the 18-yard box after trying to settle a pass from Diaz but saw his chance stuffed by the Tigers. Morck nearly cashed in moments later after a throw-in fell at his cleats and he missed just high of the frame.

Princeton staved off the Red Storm in the dwindling seconds, clearing several crosses and earning its first win of the season.

St. John's will head south for a showdown with No. 6 Marshall on Saturday in West Virginia. The non-conference matchup from Hoops Family Field is slated for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.