The St. John’s University men suffered their first loss of the Big East season, falling to Villanova University, 4-0, at Belson Stadium in Queens, N.Y. on Friday night.

The Wildcats (3-2-2, 1-0-1) netted three goals in the opening half in a span of 17 minutes. Gray Ricca scored in the 24th minute before Lyam MacKinnon added another in the 31st minute. Viktor Benediktsson logged the third tally in the 41st minute.

Vincent Petrera added the Wildcats’ fourth and final goal in the 75th minute.

MacKinnon and Petrera added assists, as did Balthi Saunders and Dominic Cyriacks.

Villanova outshot the Red Storm, 11-7, marking the second time this season that St. John’s (2-5-1, 1-1-0) has recorded fewer tries than its opponent. Four of those St. John’s shots came off the foot of Adrian Roseth. Einar Lye, Wesley Leggett and Nigel Griffith also added chances.

The Johnnies will close out non-conference as they welcome Princeton to Belson on Tuesday at 7 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.