St. John's University Athletics
Sunday, September 6
Queens, N.Y. (Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium)
7 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Florida International
Men’s Soccer to Host Florida International for 1996 National Championship Game Rematch
9/4/2026 4:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Red Storm and Panthers will kick-off at 7 p.m. from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium
QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's men's soccer team will host Florida International in a rematch of the 1996 National Championship, 30 years later. Sunday's match from Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium will kick-off at 7 p.m.
The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Ralph Bednarczyk and Satchel Pena Rivero from Queens. The Red Storm Athletic Department will host a Youth Night with a postgame autograph session.
The Johnnies (1-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) return to action at home after a heartbreaking setback against No. 16 Hofstra on Tuesday, 2-1. After The Pride took a first half lead, the Red Storm found its equalizer with just 39 seconds left on the clock. In a dramatic final minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty with 24 seconds to go to pull out a victory in Queens.
Luca Fargnoli tucked home the unassisted tally into the bottom left corner of the net. The junior, who is tied for the Red Storm's longest tenured player, scored his second goal of the young season on Tuesday night, which ranks tied for first on the team. Brage Birkelund Eie leads the in points after a five-point performance in season opening triumph at Loyola Maryland on Aug. 20.
Through three matches, St. John's had dominated its opponents in the shot category outshooting them, 46-22. The Red Storm is logging 15.3 shots per contest in comparison to allowing 7.3 for the opposition. Fargnoli ranks fourth in the BIG EAST averaging 3.0 strikes outing. Additionally, the Johnnies sit 35th in NCAA Division I recording 6.7 corner kicks per game.
Over the last seven seasons, the Red Storm is 25-7-3 (.777) in non-conference home games at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium. Since the venue opened in September 2002, St. John's holds a 143-53-44 overall mark at home.
30 years ago, St. John's won its first of two national championships as an institution claiming the 1996 Men's Soccer College Cup title. Led by current Head Coach Dr. Dave Masur, the Johnnies cruised past Florida International, 4-1, in Richmond, Va. In the national final on Dec. 15. The two programs have met six times since then and will face off for the 10th time overall on Sunday evening.
The Panthers have a narrow edge in the series, 5-4, while the Red Storm have won two out of three contests played in Queens. The two sides last met four years ago with FIU taking home a 1-0 decision on Aug. 29, 2022.
Florida International makes the trip north from Miami with a 2-1-1 record in the early going of the 2026 campaign. After a lopsided defeat in their season opener, the Panthers have gone unbeaten in their last three contests including back-to-back victories over then-No. 20 North Carolina State and St. Thomas (Fla.).
A trio of FIU players- Pasquale Capriati, Johan Helan and Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano were tabbed to the American Preseason All-Conference Team on Aug. 18. Santi Possu leads the squad offensively with a pair of goals while former Johnnie Jad Benjelloun has logged a goal and an assist. Benjelloun, a Florida native, made nine appearances and tallied two goals for the Red Storm in 2025. Defensively, goaltender Nigel Haveren has posted two shutouts in four starts this season.
Following the end of a two-game home stint, St. John's will head back on the road to battle Syracuse on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Ralph Bednarczyk and Satchel Pena Rivero from Queens. The Red Storm Athletic Department will host a Youth Night with a postgame autograph session.
The Johnnies (1-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) return to action at home after a heartbreaking setback against No. 16 Hofstra on Tuesday, 2-1. After The Pride took a first half lead, the Red Storm found its equalizer with just 39 seconds left on the clock. In a dramatic final minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty with 24 seconds to go to pull out a victory in Queens.
Luca Fargnoli tucked home the unassisted tally into the bottom left corner of the net. The junior, who is tied for the Red Storm's longest tenured player, scored his second goal of the young season on Tuesday night, which ranks tied for first on the team. Brage Birkelund Eie leads the in points after a five-point performance in season opening triumph at Loyola Maryland on Aug. 20.
Through three matches, St. John's had dominated its opponents in the shot category outshooting them, 46-22. The Red Storm is logging 15.3 shots per contest in comparison to allowing 7.3 for the opposition. Fargnoli ranks fourth in the BIG EAST averaging 3.0 strikes outing. Additionally, the Johnnies sit 35th in NCAA Division I recording 6.7 corner kicks per game.
Over the last seven seasons, the Red Storm is 25-7-3 (.777) in non-conference home games at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium. Since the venue opened in September 2002, St. John's holds a 143-53-44 overall mark at home.
30 years ago, St. John's won its first of two national championships as an institution claiming the 1996 Men's Soccer College Cup title. Led by current Head Coach Dr. Dave Masur, the Johnnies cruised past Florida International, 4-1, in Richmond, Va. In the national final on Dec. 15. The two programs have met six times since then and will face off for the 10th time overall on Sunday evening.
The Panthers have a narrow edge in the series, 5-4, while the Red Storm have won two out of three contests played in Queens. The two sides last met four years ago with FIU taking home a 1-0 decision on Aug. 29, 2022.
Florida International makes the trip north from Miami with a 2-1-1 record in the early going of the 2026 campaign. After a lopsided defeat in their season opener, the Panthers have gone unbeaten in their last three contests including back-to-back victories over then-No. 20 North Carolina State and St. Thomas (Fla.).
A trio of FIU players- Pasquale Capriati, Johan Helan and Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano were tabbed to the American Preseason All-Conference Team on Aug. 18. Santi Possu leads the squad offensively with a pair of goals while former Johnnie Jad Benjelloun has logged a goal and an assist. Benjelloun, a Florida native, made nine appearances and tallied two goals for the Red Storm in 2025. Defensively, goaltender Nigel Haveren has posted two shutouts in four starts this season.
Following the end of a two-game home stint, St. John's will head back on the road to battle Syracuse on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
MID/FWD
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
FWD
/ Men's SoccerThursday, August 20
Thursday, November 20
Monday, November 17
Saturday, October 11