Ten-Man Marshall Holds #2 Ranking in Dramatic 1-1 Draw with St. John's
Red Card Drama and Late Equalizer Cap Thrilling Contest in Queens
NEW YORK, NY – Second-ranked Marshall battled back from a man down to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against St. John's (NY) on Friday evening, showcasing the resilience that has defined their early-season form in a match that featured red cards, dramatic goals, and end-to-end action.
The Diplomats broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute when Larry Noel rifled home from close range, converting with his left foot into the bottom right corner of the net. The goal came against the run of play, as St. John's had been applying sustained pressure throughout the second half, registering multiple blocked shots from Igor Goncalves that kept the Red Storm at bay.
Marshall's advantage was short-lived, however, as the match took a dramatic turn in the 85th minute. Braian Amaro received a straight red card for a challenge on Andrew Porucznik, leaving the visitors to defend their lead with ten men for the final stages.
St. John's capitalized on their numerical advantage just two minutes later. Jeremy Sharp curled a magnificent right-footed effort into the bottom left corner in the 87th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures and capping off a relentless second-half performance from the Red Storm.
The equalizer was the culmination of sustained pressure from St. John's, who outshot Marshall 15-12 and forced six saves from Diplomats goalkeeper Dan Rose. The Marshall shot-stopper was particularly impressive in the first half, making crucial stops to preserve the clean sheet before Noel's breakthrough.
Both sides struggled with discipline as the match wore on, with yellow cards shown to multiple players including Igor Goncalves and Gabe Smyth for St. John's, while Marshall saw David de la Vibora Bonilla, Ryan Holmes, and Kirill Pakhomov all cautioned by the official.
The tactical battle was evident in the set-piece count, with St. John's earning five corner kicks to Marshall's three, reflecting their territorial advantage for large portions of the contest. The Red Storm's persistence in wide areas consistently troubled the Marshall defense, with throw-ins and free kicks creating numerous half-chances.
Marshall manager made several strategic substitutions throughout the match, bringing on fresh legs including Max Maneke, Nikita Pakhomov, and Yasha Schaerer in an attempt to maintain their attacking threat. The changes initially paid dividends with Noel's goal, but the red card forced a more defensive approach.
St. John's goalkeeper Alec McLachlan made four crucial saves to keep his side in the match, including a spectacular stop in the closing minutes that denied Marshall a potential winner. His counterpart Rose was equally impressive, making six saves to earn his side a valuable point.
The draw maintains Marshall's unbeaten start while giving St. John's a morale-boosting result against highly-ranked opposition. The match showcased the unpredictable nature of college soccer, where tactical discipline and mental fortitude proved just as important as technical ability.
Key Players
- Larry Noel (Marshall) - Struck the opening goal with clinical left-footed finish and won multiple fouls in attacking areas - Jeremy Sharp (St. John's) - Curled home the equalizer with superb technique and consistently troubled Marshall's defense - Dan Rose (Marshall) - Made six crucial saves to keep his side in the match despite sustained pressure