St. John's University Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Baltimore, Md. (Ridley Athletic Complex)
6 p.m.
St. John's University
1-0-0, 0-0-0
5
at
0
Loyola Maryland
0-1-0, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's (NY) | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Loyola Maryland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Photo by: Michael Eigenbrode
St. John’s Roars Past Loyola Maryland in Season Opener, 5-0
8/20/2026 9:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Red Storm posted largest margin of victory in season opener since Sept. 2, 1995
BALTIMORE – The St. John's men's soccer made a statement on opening night of the 2026 season throttling Loyola Maryland, 5-0, on Thursday. The Red Storm's decisive triumph marked the program's largest margin of victory in a season opener since it roared past Fairfield, 8-0, on Sept. 2, 1995.
The Johnnies' attack was firing on all cylinders at Ridley Athletic Complex. Four different players scored a goal and eight tallied a point in a standout all-around team effort. The five goals marked the program's highest scoring total in its initial contest since the 5-3 win over Fordham on Aug. 31, 1996. The Johnnies went onto win the National Championship that year. In the 47-year history of St. John's men's soccer, the Red Storm has only scored five or more goals in its debut four times (!990, '95, '96. 2026).
The charge was led by Brage Birkelund Eie, who shined in his Red Storm debut leading all players with five points, logging a brace and an assist in his first taste of collegiate soccer. Returners Luca Fargnoli and Andrew Porucznik wasted little time to post their first goals of the season, while Aryeh Miller stretched the advantage to five in his first college contest.
Xavi Abeijon dished out two assists in the first 25 minutes of the match. After netting the game-winner in last year's opener at Temple, the sophomore has recorded four his eight career points in season openers.
Camron Boumsong, Zander Romero and Ivar Na Aga added assists in the convincing triumph. Four Johnnies have recorded helpers in two of the last three games, dating back to the 2025 season.
Nico Bezama preserved the clean sheet behind a stellar effort from the Red Storm backline that didn't allow a single shot on target over 90 minutes.
With tonight's win, the Johnnies have now beaten every single program they have faced more than three times out of the 126 all-time opponents. The Red Storm outshot the Greyhounds, 17-6, and dominated in shots on target, 9-0.
Just nine minutes into the 2026 campaign, the Red Storm got on the board as product of a beautiful combination play. After a trio of one-touch passes near the midfield line, Boumsong played a centering ball. Birkelund Eie received the dish from the captain and one timed it to Abeijon, who returned the favor setting up the forward for a left-footed 20-yard strike that soared into the upper left side of the twine as the Johnnies jumped in front early, 1-0.
Another impressive display of passing propelled the Red Storm to double its lead in the 25th minute. Porucznik perused across the top of the 18-yard box before finding Birkelund Eie. The sophomore then took off making an overlapping run as Birkelund Eie laid it off to Abeijon, who back-heeled to Porucznik for a one-on-one with the keeper and completed the finish to push the lead to 2-0.
The Johnnies continued to threaten with Ander Gonzalez firing a shot on frame, while Abeijon and Boumsong had looks that went over the bar over a two-minute span. Later in the half, St. John's threatened off a pair of corners. Fargnoli steered a strike from the side of the box into an open net that knocked away by a Greyhounds defender. On the ensuing corner, Gonzalez challenged the keeper with a rocket that was parried away by Loyola Maryland goalkeeper Connor O'Keefe.
The Johnnies went into the locker room in control with a 2-0 lead and held a 9-2 advantage in shots. Three Red Storm players- Birkelund Eie (3), Abeijon (2) and Porucznik (2) recorded multiple points in the first 25 minutes of the 2026 season.
In the second half, St. John's tacked on another goal off a set piece. Boumsong delivered a curling ball from just outside the 18-yard box onto the head of Fargnoli to expand the lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute.
As the Red Storm continued to dominate, Birkelund Eie got his second tally off a feed in front of the goalmouth from Na Aga in the 72nd minute, 4-0.
In the 80th minute, Miller directed a header off the corner kick from Romero past the goalkeeper to balloon the lead to five and push the Red Storm to a victory on opening night for the third time in the last four seasons.
St. John's will look to keep the momentum rolling in action on Thursday, Aug. 27 at New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. start.
The Johnnies' attack was firing on all cylinders at Ridley Athletic Complex. Four different players scored a goal and eight tallied a point in a standout all-around team effort. The five goals marked the program's highest scoring total in its initial contest since the 5-3 win over Fordham on Aug. 31, 1996. The Johnnies went onto win the National Championship that year. In the 47-year history of St. John's men's soccer, the Red Storm has only scored five or more goals in its debut four times (!990, '95, '96. 2026).
The charge was led by Brage Birkelund Eie, who shined in his Red Storm debut leading all players with five points, logging a brace and an assist in his first taste of collegiate soccer. Returners Luca Fargnoli and Andrew Porucznik wasted little time to post their first goals of the season, while Aryeh Miller stretched the advantage to five in his first college contest.
Xavi Abeijon dished out two assists in the first 25 minutes of the match. After netting the game-winner in last year's opener at Temple, the sophomore has recorded four his eight career points in season openers.
Camron Boumsong, Zander Romero and Ivar Na Aga added assists in the convincing triumph. Four Johnnies have recorded helpers in two of the last three games, dating back to the 2025 season.
Nico Bezama preserved the clean sheet behind a stellar effort from the Red Storm backline that didn't allow a single shot on target over 90 minutes.
With tonight's win, the Johnnies have now beaten every single program they have faced more than three times out of the 126 all-time opponents. The Red Storm outshot the Greyhounds, 17-6, and dominated in shots on target, 9-0.
Just nine minutes into the 2026 campaign, the Red Storm got on the board as product of a beautiful combination play. After a trio of one-touch passes near the midfield line, Boumsong played a centering ball. Birkelund Eie received the dish from the captain and one timed it to Abeijon, who returned the favor setting up the forward for a left-footed 20-yard strike that soared into the upper left side of the twine as the Johnnies jumped in front early, 1-0.
Another impressive display of passing propelled the Red Storm to double its lead in the 25th minute. Porucznik perused across the top of the 18-yard box before finding Birkelund Eie. The sophomore then took off making an overlapping run as Birkelund Eie laid it off to Abeijon, who back-heeled to Porucznik for a one-on-one with the keeper and completed the finish to push the lead to 2-0.
The Johnnies continued to threaten with Ander Gonzalez firing a shot on frame, while Abeijon and Boumsong had looks that went over the bar over a two-minute span. Later in the half, St. John's threatened off a pair of corners. Fargnoli steered a strike from the side of the box into an open net that knocked away by a Greyhounds defender. On the ensuing corner, Gonzalez challenged the keeper with a rocket that was parried away by Loyola Maryland goalkeeper Connor O'Keefe.
The Johnnies went into the locker room in control with a 2-0 lead and held a 9-2 advantage in shots. Three Red Storm players- Birkelund Eie (3), Abeijon (2) and Porucznik (2) recorded multiple points in the first 25 minutes of the 2026 season.
In the second half, St. John's tacked on another goal off a set piece. Boumsong delivered a curling ball from just outside the 18-yard box onto the head of Fargnoli to expand the lead to 3-0 in the 52nd minute.
As the Red Storm continued to dominate, Birkelund Eie got his second tally off a feed in front of the goalmouth from Na Aga in the 72nd minute, 4-0.
In the 80th minute, Miller directed a header off the corner kick from Romero past the goalkeeper to balloon the lead to five and push the Red Storm to a victory on opening night for the third time in the last four seasons.
St. John's will look to keep the momentum rolling in action on Thursday, Aug. 27 at New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. start.
Players Mentioned
MID/FWD
/ Men's Soccer
FWD
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
DEF/MID
/ Men's Soccer
FWD
/ Men's Soccer
MID
/ Men's Soccer
MID/DEF
/ Men's Soccer
MID
/ Men's Soccer
MID
/ Men's SoccerTeam Stats
STJOHN
LOYOLA
Goals
5
0
Shots
17
6
Shots on Goal
9
0
Saves
0
3
Corners
8
3
Fouls
12
10
Scoring Plays
Brage Birkelund Eie (2)
Assisted By: Xavi Abeijon
GOAL by STJOHN Birkelund Eie, Brage Assist by Abeijon, Xavi.
08:36
Andrew Porucznik (1)
Assisted By: Brage Birkelund Eie , Xavi Abeijon
GOAL by STJOHN Porucznik, Andrew Assist by Birkelund Eie, Brage and Abeijon, Xavi.
24:32
Luca Fargnoli (1)
Assisted By: Camron Boumsong
GOAL by STJOHN Fargnoli, Luca Assist by Boumsong, Camron.
51:12
Brage Birkelund Eie (2)
Assisted By: Ivar Nå Aga
GOAL by STJOHN Birkelund Eie, Brage Assist by Nå Aga, Ivar.
75:27
Aryeh Miller (1)
Assisted By: Zander Romero
GOAL by STJOHN Miller, Aryeh Assist by Romero, Zander.
79:22
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Thursday, August 20
Thursday, November 20
Monday, November 17
Saturday, October 11