St. John’s Roars Back to Sink Villanova, 2-1, in BIG EAST Opener

Friday, September 18

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

7 p.m.

St. John's University

4-3-0, 1-0-0

Villanova

3-3-1, 0-1-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Villanova	1	0	1
St. John's	0	2	2

St. John’s Roars Back to Sink Villanova, 2-1, in BIG EAST Opener

9/18/2026 9:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Junior duo of Luca Fargnoli and Kaief Tomlinson find back of the net in comeback victory

QUEENS, N.Y.– After conceding an early goal, the St. John's men's soccer team engineered a second half comeback to down Villanova, 2-1, in its BIG EAST opener on Friday night.

The two longest tenured players on the Johnnies roster- Luca Fargnoli and Kaief Tomlinson recorded goals off headers from corner kicks in the latter stanza to lift the Red Storm to three points on the first night of league action.

Fargnoli's third tally of the season moved the Long Island native into the team leader in goals scored and points (6). Tomlinson's game-winner marked the first goal of the junior's career.

Camron Boumsong, Ivar Nå Aga and Ander Gonzalez recorded assists in the winning effort. The helpers marked the second of the season for the two team captains and the first collegiate point for Gonzalez.

The Red Storm (4-3-0, 1-0-0 BIG EAST) ripped off a season-high 26 shots on Friday night outshooting the Wildcats by a margin of 15 strikes. Gonzalez and Henrik Ropstad tallied the highest shot total by a St. John's player this season, both tallying five. Andrew Porucznik matched a career-high four shot attempts, while Na Aga added three. In the second half, St. John's outshot Villanova, 18-6.

St. John's took 13 corners at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium, the program's highest total in at least the last three seasons. The Johnnies capitalized from the corner spot for both of their goals in Friday's come-from-behind victory.

Villanova's goalkeeper Alex Yagudayev recorded seven saves for the Wildcats. Red Storm goaltender Nico Bezama logged three stops and picked up his fourth victory of the season.

The Wildcats came out firing early to begin conference play. In the 10^th minute, Sam Nyenka slipped a pass to Karson Vasquez, who won possession and fired a laser to open the scoring, 1-0.

Porucznik had the first look on goal in the 23^rd minute firing a grounded strike on frame right into the arms of the Wildcats' goalkeeper Alex Yagudayev.

Later in the opening half, the Johnnies threatened four shots, including three on target over a three minute span. Ropstad directed a ball towards the near post that parried away by Yagudayev. On the ensuing corner, Ander Gonzalez and Ropsad both tallied on-target attempts that halted by the netminder once again.

In the closing seconds of the first stanza, Ropstad had a look on frame and launched the strike over the crossbar as time expired in the initial 45 minutes, The Red Storm outshot the Wildcats, 8-3, in the first half.

The Johnnies kept the pressure in the latter stanza as the Johnnies ripped off 12 consecutive shots, dating back to the first half. In the 52^nd minute, Boumsong provided the service from the left corner flag. Na Aga leaped into the air directed a header to the back post and onto a waiting Fargnoli. The junior headed home the equalizer.

On St. John's 12^th corner kick of the evening, Gonzalez played a curling ball into the box. The 6-foot-2 Tomlinson soared above a swarm of Wildcats defenders to tally his first career goal in the 71^st minute. Three of the Red Storm's last four goals have come off of set pieces.

Bezama came up with a big stop, deflecting away a rocket off the foot of Villanova's Luke Martelli to maintain the lead in the 79th minute.

The Red Storm held on to win its third contest in its last four appearances and moved 3-1 in Queens on the season. St. John's also advanced to 23-11-7 all-time in BIG EAST openers.

St. John's will resume non-conference play on Tuesday when it battles UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. in North Carolina.