Junior Anders Vest-Hansen's penalty kick seven minutes into overtime gave the Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team a 2-1 victory over No. 14 St. John's at a packed University Stadium Tuesday night. With the victory, the Knights improve to 6-3-0 on the season, while the Red Storm falls to 5-3-1 overall.

For a good portion of the contest, FDU was in control, holding possession for more than half of the time. Over the first 45 minutes neither side could put together any true scoring chances but had opportunities on counter attacks without coming away with any good shots on goal. At halftime the Knights held a 5-2 advantage in shots.

The first 26 minutes of the second half was more of the same play seen in the opening stanza, but the home team finally broke through early in the 72 minute when Vest-Hansen gave a beautiful one touch to a streaking Yusuf Hamza down in the right corner. The sophomore then delivered a beautiful cross into the box, and junior Nico Wright placed a perfect header into the back of the net on the right side to give FDU a 1-0 lead. The goal was Wright's second of the season.

St. John's had three corner kicks in a span of three minutes quickly following the Knights' goal but was unable to score until Sean Sepe took advantage of an FDU mistake on a miscommunication in the back. Sepe found himself all alone in the box from about 12 yards out and drilled a shot from into the top center of the goal to knot the game at 1-1 in the 87th minute.

The Knights had one last chance in the final minute of regulation to take the lead, but senior Nicholas Walker's header off a corner kick went wide right.

Heading into the extra period, FDU held a 9-4 lead in shots but trailed in corner kicks, 6-4.

In overtime, the Knights had a pair of corner kicks early on, and junior Martin Lukaschik had a shot blocked before a foul was called on the Red Storm in the box, allowing for Vest-Hansen's dramatic game-winning goal on the penalty kick, which was his first score of the season.

For the contest FDU outshot St. John's 11-4. Senior goalkeeper Jacob Lissek made two saves and never had a chance on the Red Storm goal. St. John's goalkeeper Rafael Diaz turned away four shots on the night.

"This was a great win for us over a very good St. John's team, who we respect very much," Head Coach Seth Roland said. "The guys played great, and it was good to see our mentality so focused, so alert and so committed because it has not been that way for a few games. This game showed what we are capable of when we have the right mentality, and I thought we outplayed St. John's from the opening whistle."

"We had a little miscommunication that led to their goal, but instead of allowing it to break our spirits, we proved to be strong and resilient," Roland said. "In overtime we went in and took the game over until we got the game winner. I am really proud of the guys."

The Knights will return to action Saturday, Oct. 5 for the first of three road games when they play Siena, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m.

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