St. John’s Rallies From Two-Goal Deficit to Down Providence, 3-2

Saturday, October 11

Queens, N.Y. (Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium)

5 p.m.

St. John's University

6-3-3, 2-1-1

Providence

4-6-1, 2-2-0

Providence

St. John's (NY)

Photo by: Vincent Dusovic

St. John’s Rallies From Two-Goal Deficit to Down Providence, 3-2

10/11/2025 9:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Guilherme Gomes fired home the game-winner in the 88th minute

QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's men's soccer team (6-3-3, 2-1-1 BIG EAST) orchestrated a furious comeback completed by a Guilherme Gomes game-winner in the 88^th minute to down Providence (4-6-1, 2-2 BIG EAST) on Saturday night.

Gomes' tucked home his fifth goal of the season and the game-winner with 2:44 remaining on the clock as the Red Storm recorded a come-from-behind victory for the second consecutive match after last week's 2-1 victory over then-No. 19 Akron. Gomes leads the Johnnies in goals (5) and points (10).

Bjorn Nikolajewski scored his third goal over the last six matches. The team captain buried a penalty kick with 34 seconds remaining in the opening half to chop the Friars' lead in half heading into the intermission. Ivar Na Aga logged his first goal of the season netting the equalizer in the 53^rd minute to tie the match.

Julian Jakopovic, Jeremy Sharp and Gabin Thomelier all tallied assists during Saturday's winning effort in Queens. The trio is tied for the team lead in assists at three apiece.

In the first half, both sides played with pace in the first 30 minutes and exchanged just two shots between them. In the 35^thminute, Vasco Teixeira opened the scoring for the Friars. Pearse O'Brien delivered a pass to Bruno Rosa, who flicked it onto Teixeira setting up the strike from 20 yards out that put the visitors in front, 1-0.

Just 4:40 later, Sam Montalto corralled a misplaced challenge right at the top of the six -yard box. The forward tapped in the easy tally to double the Providence advantage, 2-0. The goal went under video review but the call stood.

In the final minute of the first half, Thomelier was taken down in the box. After no initial call on the field, the play went to review and a penalty kick was awarded with 0:34 remaining in the opening half. Nikolajewski stepped up to the spot and fired in a line drive into the bottom left corner of the net to cut the deficit in half, 2-1, heading into halftime.

As the second half got under way, the Red Storm drew a foul right by the corner flag next to its own bench. Jakopovic launched a cross into the box, as Na Aga steered the header into the back of the twine on the far post. The graduate student knotted the scoreline in the 52^nd minute, 2-2, erasing the early two-goal deficit.

As the Red Storm continued to search for the go-ahead goal Luca Fargnoli generated a pair of chances. The sophomore steered a strike on frame that was stopped by the Providence goalkeeper in the 72^nd minute. The North Bellmore, N.Y., native had another opportunity six minutes later that whistled just wide.

The Johnnies kept up the press seeking the decisive tally. In the final minutes, Thomelier played a ball down the wing to Sharp. The senior fired in a cross to Gomes', as the rookie unleashed a strike that sailed into the twine giving the Johnnies the advantage with 2:44 left on the clock.

On the last play of the game, the Friars launched a strike as time expired as Alec McLachlan made the clutch save as the buzzer sounded to preserve a crucial BIG EAST victory. The senior finished with three saves.

St. John's will return to action in search of its third straight BIG EAST on Friday, Oct. 17 at UConn for a 7 p.m. start at Morrone Stadium.