Tani Oluwaseyi has scored in all three St. John’s wins. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra)

QUEENS, N.Y. – Taking on its traditional Big East rival for the first time in nearly seven years, the St. John’s University men welcomed Connecticut back to the conference with a 2-0 victory at Belson Stadium Wednesday evening.

St. John’s improved to 3-1-0 with a 1-1-0 record in Big East play. UConn fell to 1-2-0, 0-2-0.

Tani Oluwaseyi provided the game-winning goal for the third time in as many St. John’s wins this season, scoring off an assist from Anthony Herbert in the 20th minute. The reigning Big East offensive player of the uear and a selection to the preseason watch list for the MAC Hermann Trophy, Oluwaseyi has four goals in as many games.

Herbert also picked up the primary assist on the Red Storm’s second goal, a second-half rocket off the foot of Jared Juleau. The sophomore’s first of the year was also assisted by Einar Lye.

Goalkeepers Jan Hoffelner and Luka Gavran combined for their second shutout this season. Hoffelner made two first-half stops while Gavran added another in the 86th minute.

As they were in their Big East opener at Seton Hall University, the Johnnies were without the services of several key contributors due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols.

The Red Storm will return to action, welcoming Villanova University to Belson Stadium for a 5 p.m. match Saturday.

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.