St. John’s soccer defeats Providence in monster road win

The St. John’s soccer team notched an impressive road win against the Providence Friars. 

The St. John’s soccer team started a tough two-game road trip this week that could either make or break its season.

The Red Storm have struggled with several key players having to miss time due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols and injuries.

St. John’s saw its top scorer, Tani Oluwaseyi, struggle with an ankle injury in last week’s win over Connecticut.

Things were all made worse with a loss to the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday night at Belson Stadiu, which certainly damages the Red Storm’s resume much more than its loss to Seton Hall.

Heading into a two-game road trip against the two best teams in the Big East’s Eastern Division, the stretch of games became more critical for the Red Storm.

If St. John’s wants to be a team that gets to the NCAA Tournament and make a run, the Red Storm had to get something in this road trip.

On Wednesday, St. John’s finally got some players that were in contact tracing protocols or injured back including starting center-back Matt Chandler.

The game was tightly contested, especially in the first half, with both teams having its chances to get the breakthrough, as you would expect in a game between two NCAA Tournament caliber teams.

No. 13 Providence (3-1-1) looked like they were going to score first in the 18th minute when Friars freshman Brendan McSorley got around Red Storm goalie Luka Gavran, but senior defender Johan Aquilon cleared the shot off the line to keep the Friars off the board.

Red Storm forward Tommy Scalici and midfielder Ossian Hallberg came close in the 22nd and 25th minutes, respectively, as their shots flashed just wide.

The Johnnies would continue to grow in the game and get the better chances as they had six shots on goal compared to Providence’s one.

Finally, the breakthrough came in the second half.

Once again it was Tani Oluwseyi at the center of the action in the 63rd minute connecting with a Drew Rosen cross for a beautiful header into the top corner.

The junior forward only came into the game in the 58th minute as the Red Storm ease him back into action after he missed the loss to Villanova on Saturday.

The goal was the Ontario native’s fifth goal in five appearances this season, four of which are game-winners.

St. John’s wasn’t finished there as Oluwaseyi played in Wesley Leggett on the counter attack, who finished the move off with a low shot into the left corner from the top of the box in the 90th minute to give some insurance and secure a 2-0 win for the Johnnies.

St. John’s soccer makes impressive statement, looking for more

The two goals were the first goals that the Friars had surrendered all season in five games.

The win moves St. John’s to 4-2 overall on the season, 2-2 in Big East play.

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Next up, the Red Storm have a chance to make a monumental statement on Saturday in the nation’s capital against the defending national champion Georgetown Hoyas (2-0-1).

Kickoff will be at 12:00pm EST at Shaw Field.