QUEENS, New York –
After closing out non-conference play by winning three of its last five games, the St. John's lacrosse team will open its BIG EAST slate on Saturday when Marquette comes to Queens. The showdown from Belson Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m.
The game will be broadcast on FloSports with Joe Vasile on the call. Live statistics will be available on RedStormSports.com.
Saturday is Teacher Appreciation Day and First Responder Appreciation Day at Belson Stadium. Any St. John's lifeguard or teacher can stop by the St. John's Athletics table to receive a free St. John's Athletics mug with a free soda. Admission to Belson Stadium is free for all fans.
The Red Storm (3-7, 0-0 BIG EAST) finished the non-conference portion of their schedule last Saturday, earning a come-from-behind victory against Le Moyne, 9-7. After falling behind 4-0 in the first quarter, the Johnnies used a 7-0 run to pull off their first four-goal comeback since 2019.
Brian Kelly and bobby seel each recorded hat tricks to pace St. John's offensively. The youth forwards are tied for the team lead with 19 goals each.
In addition to his three goals, Kelly added an assist Saturday in his sixth game of the season with at least four points. The Red Hook, New York, native has 31 multi-point performances in 38 career appearances and has 123 points in his three-year career, 10th the most in the history of the program. Kelly has points in nine straight games this season.
Seel has at least two points in six consecutive games and his 31 points this season are the best mark of his career. The Garden City, New York, product has produced two hat tricks this year and has recorded at least one point in a team-best 11 consecutive games dating back to 2023.
Defensively, Jack Schirtzer He had four caused turnovers, the best on the team. The junior has forced 1.5 transfers per game this season, the third best figure in the BIG EAST. His 15 forced turnovers in 2024 are a new career high, surpassing the 14 turnovers he forced a season ago.
The Red Storm held Le Moyne to 15 of 19 in punts. The Johnnies allow opponents to convert just 84.2 percent of their clear-cut opportunities, the second-best driving percentage in the BIG EAST.
Kyle Munson He was magnificent in the net on Saturday, making a season-high 16 stops and earning a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll. The redshirt junior kept Le Moyne off the scoresheet in the second and third quarters, marking the first time the Red Storm has held an opponent scoreless in a period since Feb. 5, 2023, against Manhattan. Munson leads the BIG EAST with 11.4 saves per game and ranks second in the conference with a save percentage of 51.4.
Saturday will be the Golden Eagles' first visit to Belson Stadium and the 12th.th all-time matchup between conference foes. Last season, Marquette earned a 20-10 victory over St. John's on April 8, 2023 in Milwaukee.
Marquette comes to Queens with a 4-5 record so far this year, following an 8-3 win at St. Bonaventure last Saturday. The win over the Bonnies snapped a five-game losing streak for the Golden Eagles. Marquette took a 3-0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, keeping St. Bonaventure off the scoreboard in the first and third quarters. Carsen Brandt, Luke Blanc and Devon Cowan each scored two goals, while Bobby O'Grady recorded a goal and an assist. Defensively, BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Mason Woodward caused four turnovers and picked up four fumbles. Caleb Creasor made 11 saves on just 14 shots between the pipes.
On the season, Marquette scored 98 goals and allowed 96. The Golden Eagles converted 27.5 percent of their shots and made 57.1 percent of their attempts. The Eagles have 11 man goals and have converted 47.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities, which ranks seventh in the nation. Offensively, O'Grady leads Marquette with 18 goals and Jake Stegman has a team-best 15 assists. Six players have at least 14 points this season and 25 players have recorded at least one point. In the 'X' matchup, Luke Williams won nearly 60 percent of the draws he made, which ranks third in the BIG EAST and 14th in the country.
The Golden Eagles finished fifth in the BIG EAST a season ago and were picked third in the conference's 2024 preseason poll.
After Saturday's clash with Marquette, St. John's will head west for a Friday night showdown with No. 10/9 Denver on April 5. The matchup from Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium is scheduled for 8 pm ET (6 pm MT).