St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
1-0-0, 0-0-0
Temple
0-1-0, 0-0-0
Xavi Abeijon Nets Late-Game Winner as St. John’s Tops Temple in Season Opener, 1-0
8/21/2025 9:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Abeijon posts first goal with 5:18 remaining in his collegiate debut
PHILADELPHIA – Just 11 minutes into his collegiate debut, Xavi Abeijon finished the game-winner with 5:18 remaining to propel the St. John's men's soccer team (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) past Temple (0-1,0-0 American), 1-0, in the season opener on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Abiejon capitalized on a Temple defensive miscue beating the Owls' goalkeeper to the ball just outside of the 18-yard box, sliding the game-winner into an open net for the difference-maker to move the Red Storm to 1-0 on the season.
Thursday night's dramatic victory marked the 460th career win for Dr. Dave Masur as the longtime head coach earned his 19thseason-opening win during his 35-year tenure in Queens.
St. John's outshot Temple, 14-6, at Temple Soccer Complex. 10 of the Johnnies' strikes including all five on target were registered in the second half. Andrew Porucznik led all players with four attempts, while Luca Fargnoli and Abeijon each added two apiece.
Goaltender Alec McLachlan logged his 15th career shutout in the City of Brotherly Love. The senior made on save during his 90-minute clean sheet effort and moves to 1-0 between the pipes on the year.
As the 2025 season got underway, the two teams felt each other out over the first 15 minutes with neither squad recording a shot.
After Markus Pusztahegyi launched the Johnnies' first shot of the season that deflected off an Owl defender and sailed over the crossbar setting up a corner. Julian Jakopovic provided the service as Ivar Nå Aga delivered the first threatening chance off the season as his headed strike was steered just to the right of right goalpost in the 16th minute.
Temple secured its first chance after playing through the midfielder and a through ball knocked off a Johnnies' defender and onto the waiting foot of the Owls' Chase Jackson, whose look on the bottom corner of the net was halted by McLachlan for his first save of 2025.
Over the final 15 minutes of the opening half, the Red Storm began to turn up the heat in the attacking third. The Red Storm logged a pair of shots from Guilherme Gomes and Jakopovic off a free kick opportunity from just outside the 18-yard box. Jad Benjelloun sent one above the crossbar for his first strike in a St. John's uniform as the Johnnies racked up three shots over a 10-minute span.
St. John's and Temple went to the locker room knotted at 0-0 with the Red Storm leading in shot attempts, 4-1.
In the second half at Temple Sports Complex, Coach Masur's squad came out firing rattling off five shots in the opening 10 minutes of the latter frame. A glaring chance came from Igor Goncalves in the 49th minute. Pusztahegyi played in a high-arching short that bounced off a Temple defender as Goncalves sprung into the air to steer an on frame scissor kick that was stopped in the center of the net.
In the 81st minute, the Owls had an opportunity inside the box creating space with a cutback but the oncoming strike was deflected out of play by Goncalves.
As the clock dwindled down, the Owls played it back to their center back, who looked to tap it back to the goalkeeper. The pass fell short as Abeijon charged in beating the keeper to the punch and delivered a grounded strike into the center of the empty net in the 85thminute. The crucial tally marked the first goal of his collegiate career and lifted St. John's to an opening night triumph. The Red Storm moved to 5-0-0 all-time against Temple.
The Red Storm will look to carry its momentum into its first meeting against a nationally-ranked opponent on Sunday night when it battles No. 23 Hofstra at 7 p.m. from Captains Field.
Team Stats
Xavi Abeijon (1)
GOAL by STJ Abeijon, Xavi.
84:42
