Men's Soccer Edged By St. John's In NCAA First Round, 1-0

Thursday, November 18

Queens, N.Y.

5:00 PM

Princeton University

12-6-0, 7-0-0

St. John's

11-5-3, 5-3-2

Princeton

St. John's (NY)

Men's Soccer Huddle 2021 NCAA Tournament

Photo by: Ben Solomon

Men's Soccer Edged By St. John's In NCAA First Round, 1-0

November 18, 2021 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

A goal from St. John's late in the first half was the difference as a late Princeton rally fell short in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and the Tigers were eliminated by the Red Storm, 1-0, at Belson Stadium in Queens.

The Tigers finish with a 12-6-0 record this season, including a 7-0-0 record inside the Ivy League and an outright Ivy championship.

St. John's took a 1-0 lead late in the first half when Brandon Knapp bounced a grounder inside the far post in the 43' of play. The play was relatively innocuous to start, a Red Storm throw in kicking around at the edge of Princeton's defensive third before an Atila Ashrafi pass towards the box deflected off a Princeton defender to Knapp who quickly sent his shot to the post before Jack Roberts could recover.

Princeton worked the best chance of the first portion of the game, crafty footwork from Kevin O'Toole inside the attacking box leading to a Malik Pinto shot from close range in the 21' which Luka Gavran turned aside.

In the 29', the Tigers turned up the defense with a tremendous defensive save from Stephen Duncan. The rookie defender was perfectly places to head away a Matt Chandler shot off a Red Storm corner, and Jack Roberts followed with a more traditional save of Einar Lye's follow-up.

The Tigers Run On Duncan!

Right place, right time for Stephen Duncan for this defensive save!@NCAASoccer

??: https://t.co/rXTwtBhla0 pic.twitter.com/i4J2B0snwL
— Princeton Men's Soccer (@TigerMensSoccer) November 18, 2021

After dodging disaster to start the half when a St. John's shot in the 46' clanged off the crossbar and out, the Tigers had a chance to tie in the 62', but a Malik Pinto shot slid just by the far right post.

Five minutes later, Roberts again kept his team in the game, standing tall on a Nicolas Chateau chance from close range in the 67'.

In the final five minutes, a pair of Princeton chances to tie were denied. The first was a bicycle kick attempt from O'Toole and the Red Storm then staved off two Princeton corner kicks.