Rhode Island (1-3-1)
Starters: Schmidt (GK), Berntsen, Huhnholz, Sanchis, Vojvodic, Barriguinha, Vasic, Casado, Bona, Harris, Kumakura
Substitutes: Martin, Bruning, Taylor, Rocke, Forster

St. John's (2-2-1)
Starters: McLachlin (GK), Sharp, Goncalves, Biggs, Jakopovic, Na Aga, Gomes, Fargnoli, Porucznik, Tomlinson, Partey
Substitutes: Bezama (GK), Benjelloun, Thomelier, Nibogora, Smyth, Ranisavljevic

Scoring Summary
18:29 - URI - Vojvodic (unassisted)
21:43 - SJ - Porucznik (Fargnoli)
40:13 - URI - Barriguinha (penalty kick)

How it Happened
Rhode Island got its first win of the season, taking advantage of a couple first-half chances and then playing superb defense in a 2-1 victory over St. John's Monday night.

Rhode Island took the lead in the 19th minute when Kyler Vojvodic scored the first goal of his career. He pressed a St. John's defender and got to the ball on the right side of the box before lofting a shot over keeper Alec McLachlin, who was injured on the play and departed the match moments later.

The lead was short lived. A throw-in into the Rhody box deflected back to Andrew Porucznik. He ripped a low line drive past the dive of URI's Lenno Schmidt to tie the match in the 22nd minute.

Late in the first half Sinan Bruning drew a penalty kick when he was taken down in the box in the 41st minute by defender Antonio Biggs. Biggs initially was shown a red card, but it was changed to a yellow after a review. Tiago Barriguinha took the penalty and buried it into the left corner for a 2-1 lead.  

The most dangerous opportunity in the second half for St. John's came on a corner kick in the 67th minute. The kick led to a mess in front of the net. Though the ball was on the ground for several moments, the Red Storm was unable to get a shot off, and Rhody's defense eventually cleared the threat.

Despite St. John's having a 7-2 edge on shots, the defense largely kept the pressure off keeper Lenno Schmidt. Though the Red Storm held possession for the majority of the half, they did not have many quality chances, and URI was able to hold on for the road win.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island beat St. John's for the second straight season and now leads the all-time series 4-1.
• URI snapped a 10-match winless streak that dated back to a win at Loyola Chicago Oct. 5, 2024.
• The Rams scored two goals against a St. John's team that allowed just three goals combined in its first five matches.
• The Red Storm had played draws against No. 2 Marshall and No. 5 Wake Forest in its previous two matches.
• While St. John's had 12 total shots, the Ram defense allowed just four shots on goal.
• Keeper Lenno Schmidt made four saves to earn his first career win.
• The goals for Kyler Vojvodic and Tiago Barriguinha were the first at Rhode Island for both players.
• Barriguinha had five goals in two seasons at Franklin Pierce.
• Defender Tim Huhnholz, midfielder Joan Sanchis and midfielder Jaime Casado all made their first starts of the season. For Casado, it was the first of his career.
• Huhnholz and Sanchis both missed the first four games with injuries. They both played 30 minutes of the first half before departing.

Up Next
Rhode Island opens Atlantic 10 play when it welcomes Fordham to the URI Soccer Complex Saturday, Sept. 13. The match begins at 7 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.