QUEENS, N.Y. – Taking on a preseason conference favorite for the second consecutive game, the St. John’s men dropped a 1-0 decision to reigning Atlantic 10 champion Fordham at Belson Stadium Friday night.

The Red Storm lost to Loyola Maryland, favored to win the Patriot League, 1-0, on Aug. 28.

The Rams (1-1-1) scored in the 68th minute as Janos Loebe buried a feed from Matthew Lewis after a Red Storm (1-2-0) defensive error gave the reigning A-10 offensive player of the year an open look in front.

Harry Cooksley registered a team-high four shots for the Red Storm while freshman Jack Shearer added two.

Johnnies goalkeeper Andrew Withers made a season-high five saves.

St. John’s host Hofstra University at Belson Stadium Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.