St. John's University Athletics
Saturday, March 28
Queens, N.Y. (Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium)
1 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Villanova
St. John’s Opens BIG EAST Play Against Villanova
3/27/2026 11:43:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Red Storm Look to Return to Winning Form in Queens on Saturday
QUEENS, N.Y. – After dropping its latest contest the St. John's men's lacrosse team will look to regroup as they begin conference competition, hosting Villanova in a BIG EAST opener in Queens. Face-off from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Johnny Gadamowitz and Cam Manna providing commentary. Live statistics will be accessible throughout the game at RedStormSports.com.
The Red Storm fell 13-8 to Brown this past Saturday. BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree Chase Huggard delivered a standout outing, netting five goals to pace St. John's, while goalkeeper Matt Nelson turned in another impressive performance, stopping 14 shots.
Despite a spirited fourth-quarter rally ignited by Huggard, the Red Storm were unable to overcome an early deficit after Brown jumped out to a commanding 7-2 halftime lead.
Defensively, St. John's has emerged as one of the premier man-down units in the country. The Red Storm currently are tied for ninth nationally in man-down defense, holding opponents to a conversion rate of just .778, allowing only six goals on 27 extra-man opportunities this season.
Nelson has been a cornerstone of that defensive effort. His 14-save performance against Brown marked his eighth double-digit save game of the year. On the season, the standout goalkeeper has recorded 111 saves on 392 shots faced, posting a 12.81 goals-against average.
The Wildcats enter Saturday's BIG EAST opener at 3-5 overall, having dropped their last three contests. However, Villanova opened the 2026 campaign with a signature road win over then-No. 7 Penn State.
Villanova boasts three 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST selections, led by attackman Colin Michener. The 2025 All-BIG EAST Second Team honoree has tallied 11 goals and three assists for 14 points this season, ranking second on the team.
On the defensive end, the Wildcats are anchored by a returning USILA and Nike Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention and BIG EAST First Team selection, Jake Melchionni who was also named Co-BIG EAST Specialist of the Year, a player who has already earned three weekly conference honors in 2026. Jack Shoemaker, an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree a season ago, has also continued his strong play, picking up two weekly awards this season.
The St. John's-Villanova men's lacrosse series dates back to 1985, with Villanova holding a 20-7 advantage all-time. St. John's last victory in the series came in 2014 with a narrow 11-10 overtime win.
Following Saturday's BIG EAST opener, the Red Storm will be back in action for another conference showdown against Marquette on April 4. Face-off from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
The matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Johnny Gadamowitz and Cam Manna providing commentary. Live statistics will be accessible throughout the game at RedStormSports.com.
The Red Storm fell 13-8 to Brown this past Saturday. BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honoree Chase Huggard delivered a standout outing, netting five goals to pace St. John's, while goalkeeper Matt Nelson turned in another impressive performance, stopping 14 shots.
Despite a spirited fourth-quarter rally ignited by Huggard, the Red Storm were unable to overcome an early deficit after Brown jumped out to a commanding 7-2 halftime lead.
Defensively, St. John's has emerged as one of the premier man-down units in the country. The Red Storm currently are tied for ninth nationally in man-down defense, holding opponents to a conversion rate of just .778, allowing only six goals on 27 extra-man opportunities this season.
Nelson has been a cornerstone of that defensive effort. His 14-save performance against Brown marked his eighth double-digit save game of the year. On the season, the standout goalkeeper has recorded 111 saves on 392 shots faced, posting a 12.81 goals-against average.
The Wildcats enter Saturday's BIG EAST opener at 3-5 overall, having dropped their last three contests. However, Villanova opened the 2026 campaign with a signature road win over then-No. 7 Penn State.
Villanova boasts three 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST selections, led by attackman Colin Michener. The 2025 All-BIG EAST Second Team honoree has tallied 11 goals and three assists for 14 points this season, ranking second on the team.
On the defensive end, the Wildcats are anchored by a returning USILA and Nike Lacrosse All-America Honorable Mention and BIG EAST First Team selection, Jake Melchionni who was also named Co-BIG EAST Specialist of the Year, a player who has already earned three weekly conference honors in 2026. Jack Shoemaker, an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree a season ago, has also continued his strong play, picking up two weekly awards this season.
The St. John's-Villanova men's lacrosse series dates back to 1985, with Villanova holding a 20-7 advantage all-time. St. John's last victory in the series came in 2014 with a narrow 11-10 overtime win.
Following Saturday's BIG EAST opener, the Red Storm will be back in action for another conference showdown against Marquette on April 4. Face-off from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
Players Mentioned
MID
/ Men's Lacrosse
G
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