Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's soccer scored two unanswered goals in the second half to win its 2019 season opener 2-1 over Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Haws Field.

Senior forward Kagan Foster (Alexandria, Minn.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on a penalty kick with 10:41 to play. Senior midfielder Leighton Lommel (Waite Park, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo) earned the penalty after he was taken down by the NWU (0-1-1 overall) goalkeeper.

Sophomore Brian Pacceli (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) tied the game at 1-1 with his first collegiate goal in the 55th minute. Lommel fed senior Ben Becker (Richfield, Minn./Holy Angels) up the left side into a 2-on-1 situation and Pacceli beat the goalkeeper straight on.



Royce Austen gave the Prairie Wolves a 1-0 lead on a 25-yard shot, his second goal in as many days, with 1:30 remaining in the first half. 

Senior goalkeeper Payton Spencer (Hudson, Wis.) made two saves to earn the win.

The Johnnies held statistical advantages in shots (17-8, 8-3 on goal) and corner kicks (8-2), and are now 15-1-4 in season-opening games since 2000.

SJU travels to face St. Scholastica (0-1-0 overall) for a 1 p.m. game on Sunday, Sept. 1, in Duluth.