St. John’s Tops Florida International, 1-0

Sunday, September 6

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

7 p.m.

St. John's University

2-2-0, 0-0-0

Florida International

2-2-1, 0-0-0

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

St. John's tops Florida International on Sunday night, 1-0

9/6/2026 10:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)VIDEO: Highlights Photo Gallery

Xavi Abeijon scored the game-winner from the penalty spot in the 59th minute

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's Men's Soccer team topped Florida International, 1-0, on Sunday night at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium.

Xavi Abeijon tallied the game-winning goal in the 59^th minute. The sophomore struck home a penalty kick to lift the Red Storm over the Panthers in a rematch of the 1996 National Championship game, 30 years later. The Millington, N.J., native now ranks tied for second on the team with four points (one goal, two assists) this season.

After tonight's game-winning tally from the penalty spot, the Red Storm (2-2-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)has now made 14 consecutive penalty kick attempts, dating back to Sept. 8, 2023.

Nico Bezama recorded his second clean sheet of the season and made a career-high four saves on Sunday night. The sophomore goaltender came up clutch logging back-to-back pivotal saves in the final two minutes to preserve the victory.

The Panthers (2-2-1, 0-0-0 American) recorded the first four shots of the evening and had their first chance at goal in the 18^th minute. Michele Balanti head it over to Alfonso Gilleard-Soriano, who steered a strike on goal that was parried away by Bezama and bounced off the post.

The Johnnies generated their first chance off a free kick. As the twin duo stood over the ball, Aron Wilhelmsen launched a curling strike from 25 yards out that was batted over by FIU goalkeeper Nigel Van Haveren. A few moments later, the Red Storm continue to threaten on net. Abeijon steered a feed from Andrew Porucznik towards the bottom right corner that was deflected away.

After 45 minutes, the two sides went into the locker level at the half, 0-0. The Panthers led in the shot category, 5-3, at the halfway point.

In the second half, Camron Boumsong provided the first look of the latter stanza launching the attempt over the crossbar.

In the 59^th minute, the Johnnies drew a penalty kick on the far side of the 18-yard box. After securing the penalty, Abeijon stepped up to the spot and drilled one into the bottom left corner to put St. John's in front, 1-0.

Over the final 30 minutes, the Panthers maintained possession on their offensive half of the field but only cranked one shot. The Johnnies nearly doubled their lead in the 81^st minute as Brage Bireklund Eie drove a free kick into the bottom right corner that was knocked away by Van Haveren.

In the 85^th minute, FIU went down a man after a second yellow car was issued to Jad Benjelloun. The 10-men Panthers still searched for an equalizer late in the game. FIU attackers fired a pair of shots on net in the final saves that were knocked away in impressive fashion by Bezama to seal the victory.

The Red Storm will return to action on Wednesday when it heads to Central New York to take on Syracuse at 6:30 p.m. on ACC Network Xtra.