Johnnies begin homestand with loss to ‘Cats

 

Four straight at home, four straight on the road, four straight at home.

That’s part of the schedule the men’s soccer team was dealt for the 2010 season.

The team utilized the homefield advantage and won four straight, recording three shutouts and allowing just one goal. But on the road, the Johnnies followed suit with three losses, its lone win coming in overtime against a Yale team that scored on itself.

And as it returned home for the start of another four-game set, the men’s soccer team continued its losing ways, falling 2-0 to Cincinnati (5-3-3, 3-0-0).

“Cincinnati is 3-0 in conference play for a reason,” head coach Dave Masur said. “They are a well-organized and

veteran team. We played a very energetic first half and created a lot of chances, but we did not have that same energy in the second half.”

The Red Storm (6-5-0, 0-3-0) put 11 shots on goal in the first half, but were shut out by Matt Williams, who made six saves in the game.

In the second half, St. John’s took just four shots.

After multiple St. John’s scoring chances in the 19th minute, Cincinnati took the lead in the 24th minute when Matt Bahner sent a cross toward the far post and found Nick Weightman on a one-timer just in front of the net.

St. John’s countered with shots by Walter Hines and Tadeu Terra just before the half, which were both blocked.

Early in the second half, Cincinnati struck a0gain when Brenden Stelmak dribbled through the Red Storm defense and tucked a

shot just out of goalkeeper Rafael Diaz’ reach.

Diaz made  five saves in the losing effort for the Red Storm.

Ale Ivo had a scoring chance in the 66th minute, taking a pass from Terra and sending a shot wide of the

post. He followed up with a header that also went wide a minute later.

The Red Storm also had three corner kicks between the 76th and 78th minutes, but did not get any shots on goal.