St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
No. 23 Hofstra
St. John’s to Battle No. 23 Hofstra on Sunday Night
8/23/2025 9:38:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Johnnies look to carry momentum after late game-winner at Temple on Thursday night
QUEENS, N.Y. – Two of the most storied college soccer programs in Greater New York Metropolitan Area, separated by just 13 miles will renew a local rivalry for the first time in eight years when the St. John's men's soccer team (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) battles No. 23 Hofstra (0-1, 0-0 CAA) on Sunday night.
The Red Storm and The Pride will meet for a 7 p.m. kick-off Sunday night at Captains Field in Hempstead, N.Y. The 16th meeting between the two programs who have combined for 30 NCAA Tournament appearances over the last 33 years will be streamed on FloSports. Live stats will be available on RedStormSports.com.
The Johnnies captured an opening night victory in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, downing Temple, 1-0, in Philadelphia. Freshman Xavi Abeijon, who entered the match in 74th minute capitalized on an Owls' defensive miscue tucking home the game-winner into an open net with just 5:18 remaining at the Temple Soccer Complex.
A new-look Red Storm roster that features 24 newcomers saw eight players make the starting line-up in their debut in the Red & White. St. John's outshot Temple, 14-6, logging 10 strikes including all five on target over the final 45 minutes. Andrew Porucznik led all players with four shot attempts, while Abeijon and Luca Fargnoli tallied a pair each.
The Red Storm will look to move to 2-0 for the first time since the abbreviated spring 2021 campaign and is seeking its first victory over a ranked non-conference opponent in the regular season since Sept. 6, 2013, when it outlasted then-No. 5 Akron in double overtime, 2-1, in Queens.
St. John's went 1-0-2 against ranked opponents during the regular season in 2024, highlighted by a pivotal home victory against then-No.18 Georgetown, 2-0, on Nov. 2. Hofstra is the first of five opponents on the Johnnies' 2025 schedule that were ranked in the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top-25 poll.
Hofstra, the four-time defending CAA Champions suffered a setback in Thursday night's season opener following at home to Bucknell, 2-1. Daniel Burko tallied the goal for The Pride. Key returners for the squad include CAA Preseason Player of the Year Laurie Goddard, Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA pick Gabriel Pacheco and Owen Barnett, who recorded three assists last season
On the sidelines, Sunday's matchup will feature two of the four longest tenured head coaches in NCAA Division I Men's Soccer in Dr. Dave Masur and Richard Nuttall. The duo have combined for 810 collegiate victories with Masur ranking second among active coaches with 460 total wins. Nuttall announced that the 2025 campaign, his 37th leading Hofstra will be his final season at the helm in Hempstead.
The two sides will meet for the 16th time and the first since Sept. 5, 2017 with St. John's leading the all-time series 10-3-2. After the Johnnies tallied victories in 10 of the first 12 meetings between the two sides, the Red Storm are 0-1-2 over the last three, seeking its first victory over The Pride since Sept. 14, 1994.
Following Sunday night's tilt, St. John's will return home for its home opener at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. against New Hampshire. To purchase tickets for the home opener or any of the Johnnies' 10 home matches visit RedStormTix.comor call the box office at 1-888-GO-STORM.
