St. John’s Drops Heartbreaker in Final Seconds to No, 16 Hofstra, 2-1

Tuesday, September 1

Queens, N.Y. (Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium)

8:30 p.m.

St. John's University

1-2-0, 0-0-0

No. 16 Hofstra

3-0-1, 0-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Hofstra	1	1	2
St. John's (NY)	0	1	1

The Red Storm equalized in the final minute before a penalty kick with 24 seconds remaining lifted The Pride to a victory

Photo by: Brenden Willsch Creative LLC

St. John’s Drops Heartbreaker in Final Seconds to No, 16 Hofstra, 2-1

9/1/2026 11:44:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Luca Fargnoli equalized in the 90th minute before The Pride responded with the game-winning penalty kick with 24 seconds to go

QUEENS, N.Y. – In a dramatic final minute, the St. John's men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker to No. 16 Hofstra in its home opener on Tuesday night, 2-1.

After The Pride took a first half lead, Luca Fargnoli tucked home the equalized with 39 seconds remaining to level the score at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium. Just 15 seconds later, Hofstra was awarded a penalty kick after a video review and converted the game-winner with 24 seconds remaining on a wild and rainy night in Queens.

Fargnoli, a Long Island native, recorded his second goal of the season in the 90^th minute on an unassisted tally from outside the 18-yard box.

St. John's (1-2-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) outshot Hofstra 15-8, in a physical affair between the two storied programs separated by just 10 miles. Through three games, the Johnnies have dominated their opponents in the shot category, 46-22.

Andrew Porucznik led all players and matched a career-high with four strikes. Brage Bireklund Eie and Fargnoli registered three shots apiece.

After a 90-minute weather delay, action got underway between the two local foes. The two sides battled in the early going without either generating a threatening chance.

In the 36^th minute, The Pride (3-0-1, 0-0-1 CAA) earned a corner kick on the far side. Jack Benham provided the service into the box to Sean Keane for the header and his third goal of the season, 1-0.

The two sides went into the halftime break with Hofstra holding a 1-0 advantage. The Red Storm

In the second half, the Red Storm dialed up the offensive pressure shifting the possession into its attacking half. St. John's record 10 of its 15 shot attempts over the final 45 minutes.

A bouncing cross was spiraled into the box as Kaief Tomlinson went vaulting towards the ball in the middle of the six-yard box. Moments later, Porucznik gathered an attempted clearance weaving his way to the left side. The sophomore laced one that drifted wide to the left in the 58^th minute.

The search for an equalizer continued as Porucznik settled a ball out of the air and sent Travis Thompson down the wing setting up a threatening cross in front of the goal mouth with 25 minutes remaining.

As the seconds dwindled down, the Red Storm played a high-arching long ball into the box that was punched away by Hofstra goalkeeper Milo Risenhoover. The goalkeeper clearance fell to the feet of Fargnoli. The junior dribbled his way to the center of the box and delivered a grounded strike through traffic tucking into the bottom left corner of the net with 39 seconds remaining sending the late-staying Red Storm crowd into a roar, 1-1.

On the ensuing play, The pride drew a lengthy review from a challenge in the top corner of the 18-yard box. The visitors were given a penalty in the waning seconds of the contest as Lewis Matton tallied the decisive goal with 24 seconds left on the clock, 2-1.

The Johnnies will return to action at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium on Sunday to take on Florida International at 7 p.m. in a rematch of the 1996 National Championship, 30 years later.