QUEENS, N.Y. – Boston University men's soccer freshman Brian Hernandez produced two impressive goals late in regulation to force overtime, but St. John's was able to convert on a 91st-minute penalty kick to escape, 3-2, on Friday night at Belson Stadium.

Becoming just the second opponent alongside then-No. 6 Clemson to net two goals against St. John's, the Terriers drop to 0-4-1, while the Red Storm improve to 3-2-0.

Both teams had players earn a brace with two-time All-Big East honoree Einar Lye striking twice in the first 12 minutes of action. Hernandez keyed the BU rally with goals in the 65th and 84th minutes, respectively. Junior keeper Francesco Montali recorded five saves for the Terriers, including one off a well-placed free kick at the right post in the final minute of regulation. 

"Really proud of the guys tonight," said head coach Kevin Nylen. "To go down 2-0 in the first half on the road against a very good side and to battle back to make it 2-2 shows our ability and willingness to play and perform. Very tough way to end on a PK, but that's the game and we will be better from tonight's performance as we head into conference play."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers lost control of the ball in a scramble at the top of the box attempting to clear, and St. John's pounced with two quick passes to set up a running Lye on the right side for the quick low shot and 1-0 advantage in the sixth minute.
• The Red Storm struck again the 12th minute, playing the ball up the right side and sending a cross into the box for Lye to head in at the right post.
• BU earned its first two corners in the final two minutes of the half but sophomore Joao Pedro Soares de Souza's shot attempt went wide right.
• A minute after Montali earned a save at 55:27, junior Ronaldo Marshall recorded BU's first shot on goal against Luka Gavran to set up a corner kick that was eventually cleared.
• Hernandez started the rally at 64:23 after receiving a pass on the left side of the box from senior Gianluca Arlotti and rifling an attempt inside the near post.
• Junior Quinn Matulis' attempt sailed over the crossbar at 71:32 following another BU corner kick, and Montali had two more saves, as the game entered the final minutes of regulation with SJU still ahead by one goal.
• Junior Colin Innes helped BU tie the game by playing the ball from midfield to Hernandez, who made a strong run toward the box while being pressured from behind and blasting a 25-yard shot at the right post past the diving Luka Gavran.
• Montali made an impressive save to send the game to OT by diving toward his left in the 90th minute to stop Lye's free kick attempt from just outside the box that curled around the BU wall of defenders.
• St. John's needed little time in OT to escape with the victory, as the Red Storm drew a costly Terrier penalty at 90:22 inside the box and watched Brandon Knapp convert.

GAME NOTES

• Hernandez earned BU's first brace since Matt McDonnell accomplished the feat twice in 2019 at American and Lehigh.
• He's also the first freshman since 2017 to score two goals since Austin D'Anna earned a brace at Army. 
• Arlotti and Innes became the second and third Terriers this season to claim an assist.
• St. John's finished with a 16-5 advantage in shots and 7-4 lead in corner kicks.
• The Red Storm improved to 7-3 all-time in the series, as the teams battled to OT for the first time against one another.

UP NEXT

• BU will return home to Nickerson Field to host Navy in the Patriot League opener on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
• The game is part of a soccer doubleheader with the women kicking things off at 4 p.m. against Lafayette.
• The Terriers didn't face the Midshipmen this past season due to the PL's shortened schedule that kept travel to a minimum.
• BU last met Navy at home in 2019, claiming a 1-0 OT upset victory over the 23rd-ranked Midshipmen.