Niko Petridis (right) had plenty of reasons to celebrate this and last week. (Photo courtesy of St. John’s SID)
QUEENS, N.Y. – After helping the St. John’s University extend the best start in program history with two wins, Niko Petridis has been named the Big East offensive player of the week, it was announced Monday.
The senior midfielder tallied three goals, two of which were game-winners, and two assists in a 2-0 week for the ninth-ranked Red Storm.
On the road against Columbia University last Monday night, Petridis scored the Red Storm’s second goal and assisted on the team’s third tally three minutes later in a 5-1 rout. St. John’s scored five goals in a regular season game for the first time since 2013.
On Friday against No. 19 Xavier in the Red Storm’s Big East opener, Petridis registered the most productive offensive outing of his collegiate career in a 3-1 win. With the Johnnies facing their first deficit of the season, 1-0, at the intermission, Petridis assisted on the equalizer in the 57th minute before scoring the game-winner in the 69th and adding an insurance score in the 87th minute. He delivered a picture perfect corner kick to the back post for Brandon Duarte to tie the game before unleashing two spectacular individual efforts for goals two and three. Both started with a turnover that Petridis helped force before he dribbled a considerable distance and beat the goalkeeper.
Petridis leads the squad with four goals while his three assists are tied for the team lead.
