St. John’s Cruises Past Villanova on Saturday Afternoon, 3-1

Saturday, November 1

Villanova, Pa. (Higgins Soccer Complex)

12 p.m.

St. John's University

8-5-3, 3-3-1

Villanova

5-6-5, 1-3-3

St. John's (NY)

Villanova

St. John's tied Xavier in its BIG EAST opener on Friday night after a late-game equalizer from Bjorn Nikolajewski

St. John’s Cruises Past Villanova on Saturday Afternoon, 3-1

11/1/2025 3:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Biggs, Smyth and an own goal power the Red Storm to a BIG EAST road victory

VILLANOVA, Pa.– The St. John's men's soccer team (8-5-3, 3-3-1 BIG EAST) took down Villanova (5-6-5, 1-3-3 BIG EAST), 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Higgins Soccer Complex

The Red Storm sprung out a 3-0 advantage and fended off the Wildcats over the final 30 minutes secure a victory in its final road match of the 2025 regular season.

Antonio Biggs and Gabe Smyth recorded the goals for the Johnnies early in the latter stanza. The third St. John's goal came off an own goal just 5:58 into the match.

Biggs logged a marker in his return from injury missing the last four contests. The Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree's goal was his second of the season and third of the defender's career. Smyth added his second tally during BIG EAST play.

Guilherme Gomes recorded a pair of assists to bring his season point total to 14 on the year (6 goals, 2 assists). The freshman becomes the first St. John's player with multiple helpers in a single-game this season. Jeremy Sharp logged his team-leading fourth assist of the season on Bigg's tally.

St. John's recorded 10 shots on Saturday with a season-high eight of them on target (80%). 10 different players logged one shot attempt apiece.

Alec McLachlan took home the win in net tallying four saves in Villanova. The Red Storm haven't allowed more than one goal in each of its last four matches and haven't allowed more than two all season.

On the first play of the afternoon, Villanova quickly rattled off a shot just 15 seconds in that was halted by McLachlan.

In the sixth minute, the Red Storm got on the board after Sharp played in a cross of the right wing. The ball in was volleyed by a Wildcats' defender and was driven into the net as the own goal put the Johnnies in front in the early going.

Later in the half clinging on to a one goal advantage, Julian Jakopovic notched a try taking a volley off an attempted clearance lining the strike straight on frame that was stopped by Alex Yagudayev. The Red Storm went into the locker room leading, 1-0, at the halftime break.

As the second half got underway on a windy Saturday afternoon, Andrew Porucznik got free on a breakaway but the glaring opportunity was deflected away by an impressive sliding tackle from a Villanova defender.

Shortly after, Julian Jakopovic provided the service off the corner kick. Gomes got a head on it directing it toward to far side of the 18-yard box. Sharp gained control firing a ball toward the goalmouth as Biggs got a foot on it deflecting a shot that rolled into the back of the twine, doubling the Red Storm lead, 2-0, in the 47^th minute.

In the 56^th minute, a long throw-in setup a shot attempt from Gomes from outside the box. The rebound left an open opportunity for Smyth as the sophomore tapped it home to quickly spring the Red Storm to a commanding 3-0 lead.

After Villanova went a man-up, the Wildcats went on the attack as McLachlan tallied a pair of crucial saves to fend off the Villanova flurry of shots logging 12 in the second half. The Wildcats got on the board after Flynn Lahrsen scored in 79^th minute but the Johnnies held on and move to 10 points in the league standings.

St. John's will be back in action for Senior Night when it hosts Butler for the BIG EAST finale on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.