St. John's University Athletics
Tuesday, September 1
Queens, N.Y. (Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium)
8:30 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
No. 16 Hofstra
St. John’s Welcomes No. 13 Hofstra for Home Opener on Tuesday
8/31/2026 2:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Johnnies have gone unbeaten in seven of their last eight openers at Belson Stadium
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's men's soccer team (1-1-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) will host its home opener on Tuesday night in a local heavyweight tilt against No. 13 Hofstra (2-0-1, 0-0-1 CAA) at 7 p.m.
Admission is free for all fans at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium for the 2026 season. The first 500 fans will receive a St. John's soccer jersey presented by Coca-Cola and schedule posters will be given out for all in attendance. Tuesday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Ralph Bednarczyk and Satchel Pena Rivero on the call from Queens.
After starting the campaign with a two-match road stint, the Red Storm will return for its first contest in Queens. The Johnnies have gone unbeaten in seven of their last eight home openers, logging a 6-1-1 mark during that stretch dating back to 2018. Over the last seven seasons, the Johnnies are 25-6-3 (.779) against non-conference opponents at Belson Stadium, dating back to the start of the 2019 campaign. St. John's played its first-ever game as a varsity program against Hofstra earning a 2-0 victory on Sept. 15, 1979 in Queens.
The Johnnies are coming off a 2-1 setback at New Hampshire on Thursday night. After the Wildcats got on the board first, the Red Storm responded just over a minute into the second half to equalize. UNH tallied the eventual game-winner five minutes later despite the Johnnies leading in shots, 14-8, including 11 attempts in the latter 45 minutes.
Travis Thompson provided the tally in just his second collegiate appearance off a cross to the back post from Andrew Porucznik. Thompson, a junior, returned to the pitch after being riddled with injury over the first two years of high collegiate career and took only 25 minutes of action to record his first goal. Porucznik is the lone Johnnie to record a point through both games this season.
Through the first two weeks of the campaign, the Johnnies boast one of the most high-power attacks in all of college soccer. The Red Storm rank 10th in assists per game (3.5), 12th in points per game (9.5) and 14th in scoring offense (3.0 GPG) as of Aug. 31. St. John's sits second in the BIG EAST in all three categories.
Brage Bireklund Eie ranks 17th nationally and second in the league logging 2.5 points per game. The freshman recorded two goals and an assist in his collegiate debut at Loyola Maryland and was tabbed to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week on Aug. 25.
Separated by just 10 miles, St. John's and Hofstra will meet for the 17th time with the Red Storm leading the all-time series, 10-4-2. After longtime Pride Head Coach Richard Nuttall retired after last season, Tuesday's matchup will mark the first contest between the two programs without Dr. Dave Masur and Nuttall both on the sidelines since Oct. 10, 1990. Longtime assistant Stephen Roche took over the reins in Hempstead and has The Pride off to a 2-0-1 start to the season.
Coming off a 14-5-1 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Third Round in 2025, Hofstra is off to an unbeaten start through three matches this season. The Pride drew Stony Brook, 1-1, in its CAA opener on Saturday night. Coach Roche's squad began the year with back-to-back wins over Bucknell and American.
Forward Bastian Carlman leads The Pride with three goals and an assist (seven points) this season. The Fort Hays State transfer ranks top-20 nationally in scoring and has scored in all three contests. Defensively, The Pride are led by Preseason CAA Player of the Year and team captain Pietro Santi.
After Tuesday's contest, St. John's will take on Florida International on Sunday in a rematch of the 1996 National Championship.
Admission is free for all fans at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium for the 2026 season. The first 500 fans will receive a St. John's soccer jersey presented by Coca-Cola and schedule posters will be given out for all in attendance. Tuesday's contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Ralph Bednarczyk and Satchel Pena Rivero on the call from Queens.
After starting the campaign with a two-match road stint, the Red Storm will return for its first contest in Queens. The Johnnies have gone unbeaten in seven of their last eight home openers, logging a 6-1-1 mark during that stretch dating back to 2018. Over the last seven seasons, the Johnnies are 25-6-3 (.779) against non-conference opponents at Belson Stadium, dating back to the start of the 2019 campaign. St. John's played its first-ever game as a varsity program against Hofstra earning a 2-0 victory on Sept. 15, 1979 in Queens.
The Johnnies are coming off a 2-1 setback at New Hampshire on Thursday night. After the Wildcats got on the board first, the Red Storm responded just over a minute into the second half to equalize. UNH tallied the eventual game-winner five minutes later despite the Johnnies leading in shots, 14-8, including 11 attempts in the latter 45 minutes.
Travis Thompson provided the tally in just his second collegiate appearance off a cross to the back post from Andrew Porucznik. Thompson, a junior, returned to the pitch after being riddled with injury over the first two years of high collegiate career and took only 25 minutes of action to record his first goal. Porucznik is the lone Johnnie to record a point through both games this season.
Through the first two weeks of the campaign, the Johnnies boast one of the most high-power attacks in all of college soccer. The Red Storm rank 10th in assists per game (3.5), 12th in points per game (9.5) and 14th in scoring offense (3.0 GPG) as of Aug. 31. St. John's sits second in the BIG EAST in all three categories.
Brage Bireklund Eie ranks 17th nationally and second in the league logging 2.5 points per game. The freshman recorded two goals and an assist in his collegiate debut at Loyola Maryland and was tabbed to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week on Aug. 25.
Separated by just 10 miles, St. John's and Hofstra will meet for the 17th time with the Red Storm leading the all-time series, 10-4-2. After longtime Pride Head Coach Richard Nuttall retired after last season, Tuesday's matchup will mark the first contest between the two programs without Dr. Dave Masur and Nuttall both on the sidelines since Oct. 10, 1990. Longtime assistant Stephen Roche took over the reins in Hempstead and has The Pride off to a 2-0-1 start to the season.
Coming off a 14-5-1 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament Third Round in 2025, Hofstra is off to an unbeaten start through three matches this season. The Pride drew Stony Brook, 1-1, in its CAA opener on Saturday night. Coach Roche's squad began the year with back-to-back wins over Bucknell and American.
Forward Bastian Carlman leads The Pride with three goals and an assist (seven points) this season. The Fort Hays State transfer ranks top-20 nationally in scoring and has scored in all three contests. Defensively, The Pride are led by Preseason CAA Player of the Year and team captain Pietro Santi.
After Tuesday's contest, St. John's will take on Florida International on Sunday in a rematch of the 1996 National Championship.
Players Mentioned
MID
/ Men's Soccer
FWD
/ Men's SoccerThursday, August 20
Thursday, November 20
Monday, November 17
Saturday, October 11