HAMILTON, N.Y. – For the third time in as many opportunities this preseason, the St. John’s University men’s used an early second half goal from a freshman to register a 1-0 victory over Colgate University Saturday.

Jack Russo, a freshman from Holmdel, N.J., found the back of the net in the 61st minute for what turned into the lone goal of the match. Senior midfielder Matt Forster, the Red Storm’s active career leader in points and games played, assisted.

Two goalkeepers combined to record the team’s third consecutive preseason shutout, as Jan Hoffelner and Luka Gavran each had a scoreless half. The duo needed to make one save as only one of Colgate’s five shots found its target.

The Red Storm also defeated Fordham and Long Island University by 1-0 margins this month in exhibition action, as freshman Jared Juleau provided the game-winner in each of those affairs.

St. John’s will play its first game of the regular season as the team kicks off its season at Appalachian State Aug. 30. Two days later, the Johnnies will travel to Raleigh, N.C. for a showdown with North Carolina State, which finished one spot out of the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25. The team’s home opener at Belson Stadium will take place against Manhattan College Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

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.