It hasn’t been an easy ride for the St. John’s men’s soccer team this season, but they have finally given their fans a game to cheer about.
On Wednesday, October 7, the Red Storm finally put together a solid Big East home victory when they shutout Rutgers. In addition to the impressive 2-0 win, St. John’s achieved something that they have not done all season – scored a goal in the first half of a game.
Despite gusting winds, St. John’s persistently pressured Rutgers in the first half and it finally paid off. In the 20th minute of the game, the Storm capitalized on a corner kick when midfielder Kyle Hoffer booted in a goal that was deflected off a header from Joel Gustafsson.
This was Hoffer’s first goal of the season and St. John’s first first-half point scored this season. The Storm ended the first half on that high note and came out firing in the second.
In the 57th minute, St. John’s took advantage of a penalty kick and team captain, Tadeu Terra, served the ball into the back of the net to put the Storm up 2-0.
“That goal just gave us confidence to keep the game going and we just made great choices,” Terra said about his third goal of the season. “We are getting back on track.”
Rutgers had a few spurts of offense, but to no avail as St. John’s goalie, Derby Carrillo, smothered a couple of shots and deflected another, to save three shots on the night to rack up his sixth shutout of the season.
“It was a great win and we really needed this,” Carrillo said. “We just come in, work hard, and it all should pay off in the end for us.”
With more Big East action ahead of them, St. John’s looks to keep scoring significant wins – as they take on Princeton on the road and come home to play Louisville on October 17.
