Johnnies top BU and Columbia before Big East opener vs Xavier

SJU men’s soccer collected wins against non-conference opponents ahead of their Big East season opener on Saturday.
Columbia visited Belson Stadium on Monday night to cap a five-game home stand for the Red Storm. Graduate transfer Lucas Bartlett (Overland Park, Kan.) finished a perfect header that proved to be the game-winner in the 43rd minute. Bartlett has now recorded a point in three straight games and four of his last five overall.
In last Friday’s match, Johnnies senior captain Brandon Knapp (Abingdon, Md.) buried a penalty kick just 22 seconds into overtime to lift St. John’s men’s soccer past Boston University, 3-2, at Belson Stadium. Einar Lye (Undheim, Norway) scored in both the sixth and 12th minutes to give the Red Storm an early edge, but BU answered with two goals from freshman Brian Hernandez, including the game-tying tally at 83:57.
Last spring, Knapp never stepped off the pitch in 10 matches for St.John’s, playing all 907 minutes. Through five games this season, Knapp has two goals (both game-winners) and four assists, equal to his assist total from the first 44 appearances of his career. Knapp’s offensive production has eased the absence of Tani Oluwaseyi, the 2019 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, who is expected to miss the season with injury.
Men’s soccer plays Xavier in Cincinnati on Saturday, who have started the season 5-1 with a perfect, 4-0, record at home.