University of Rhode Island Come to Queens and Stun St. John’s University 2-1

QUEENS, N.Y. – The University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team delivered a stunning 2-1 upset victory over St. John’s University at Cox Family Field at Belson Stadium on Monday night, spoiling what had been a promising start to the season for the Red Storm.

Early Drama Sets the Tone

The match began with St. John’s (2-2-2, 0-0-0 Big East) creating the first significant opportunity in the eighth minute when Igor Goncalves tested the Rhode Island goalkeeper with a well-placed shot toward the top-right corner that was expertly saved.

Rhode Island (1-3-1, 0-0-0 A-10) struck first in the 19th minute when Kyler Vojvodic broke through the St. John’s backline and finished clinically to give the visiting Rams a 1-0 advantage.

Red Storm Responds Quickly

St. John’s demonstrated their resilience just two minutes later, equalizing through freshman Andrew Porucznik’s first collegiate goal. The scoring sequence began with a Jeremy Sharp throw-in that found Luca Fargnoli, who headed the ball to Porucznik for a perfectly struck finish.

The goal continued an impressive trend for St. John’s, as six of their eight goals this season have come from freshman players, highlighting the program’s young talent.

Key First Half Statistics:

• St. John’s outshot Rhode Island 5-5 in the opening period
• Sharp recorded his third point in two matches
• Fargnoli earned his first career assist

St. John’s Soccer News:

• St. John’s Stuns No. 2 Marshall with Dramatic 1-1 Draw
• Columbia Edges St. John’s 1-0 in Tight Queens Derby
• St. John’s Stuns No. 5 Wake Forest with Gritty Road Draw
• St. John’s Forwards Open Up Youngstown Early, While Kayla Bower Stands Tall in Goal

Penalty Proves Decisive

The match’s turning point came in the 41st minute when Rhode Island was awarded a penalty kick. Tiago Barriguinha stepped up and converted from the spot, giving the Rams a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

The penalty decision proved crucial in a match where St. John’s dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities but couldn’t find the equalizer.

Second Half Pressure Falls Short

St. John’s controlled much of the second half, outshooting Rhode Island 7-2 after the break. Jad Benjelloun led the Red Storm’s offensive charge, matching his career high with three shots on the night.

The Red Storm’s best second-half opportunity came when Julian Jakopovic delivered a corner kick that created chaos in the Rhode Island penalty area. Benjelloun fired a close-range shot through traffic, but Rams goalkeeper Lenno Schmidt made a crucial save to preserve the lead.

Match Statistics:

• St. John’s outshot Rhode Island 12-7 overall
• Red Storm held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks
• Schmidt made 4 saves for Rhode Island
• St. John’s failed to convert despite a territorial advantage

Missed Opportunities Costly

Despite generating numerous scoring chances and controlling large portions of the match, St. John’s couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. The Red Storm’s inability to convert their statistical advantages into goals ultimately cost them against a Rhode Island team that entered the match with just one win in five games.

The loss represents a setback for St. John’s, which had built momentum with impressive performances against top-ranked opponents in recent weeks, including draws with #5 Wake Forest and #2 Marshall.

Looking Ahead

St. John’s will look to bounce back when it hosts FDU on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cox Family Field. The Red Storm will need to improve their finishing if they hope to capitalize on their strong play and begin Big East conference action on a positive note.

For Rhode Island, the victory provides a much-needed confidence boost as they continue their Atlantic 10 campaign, proving they can compete with quality opponents despite their early-season struggles.

🎮 FC 26 – The Ultimate Soccer Gaming Experience! Experience realistic gameplay and manage your dream team! Pre-order FC 26 now for exclusive content and player packs. Available on all major gaming platforms!

College Soccer Coverage Stay connected with all college soccer action and comprehensive analysis. Subscribe to our premium newsletter for exclusive insights, player profiles, and in-depth match breakdowns you won’t find anywhere else.

Don’t miss the stories that define college soccer!