Offensive Barrage Leads Marquette Past St. John's, 4-0

MILWAUKEE – The Marquette University men's soccer team was clicking on all cylinders as the offensive attack reemerged to post a season-high four goals, while the back line held firm, in a 4-0 victory over St. John's at Valley Fields on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles (4-7-1, 2-2-1 BIG EAST) picked up a pivotal three points, vaulting into a fourth-place tie with St. John's and Xavier in the BIG EAST standings. The four-goal outburst put an emphatic end to Marquette's 400-plus minute scoreless streak, beginning with Josh Coan's first-half tally in the 41st minute.

The attack built on their momentum in the second half and, in the 65th minute, Luka Prpa made it 2-0 after Connor Alba's shot was cleared off the line with a St. John's hand ball. Not only was Prpa able to put away the penalty with his second goal of the season, but the Red Storm were forced to play the final 25 minutes with 10 men.

In the 73rd minute, Alba managed to find the goal that eluded him earlier and Lukas Sunesson provided a fourth with an impressive shot off the bar and in. For Alba and Sunesson, it was their fourth goals of the season, which keeps them in the team-lead. Prpa's goal and two assists on the night moved him into the team-lead with Alba for nine points on the year.

With two key defenders out of the lineup in Josh Hancock and Steffen Böhm, the Golden Eagles were forced to make some adjustments and did so admirably as evidenced by the team's fourth clean sheet of the campaign.

Senior goalkeeper Luis Barraza has been the man in net for each of those shutouts as he improves his league-best save percentage to .873 and lowers his goals against average to a career-best 0.75. Tonight marked his 10th career clean sheet.

The Golden Eagles improved their record against the Red Storm to 4-2-3 all-time and are now unbeaten in seven-straight meetings, which includes back-to-back shutout victories.

Marquette remains at Valley Fields for its next match against Xavier in another pivotal BIG EAST clash on Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. Central time.

Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).

GOAL SUMMARY
41' | JOSH COAN (LUKA PRPA)

Here's a look at the @jcoan98 goal in the 41st minute to give #MarquetteSoccer a 1-0 lead on St. John's. #BEfutbol pic.twitter.com/1hzTKKCWKC
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018

65' | LUKA PRPA (PENALTY)

Here's @luka_prpa converting the penalty after a St. John's handball off the line denied @connoralba. Golden Eagles with a big insurance goal and SJU down to 10 men for the final 25 minutes. pic.twitter.com/QIuSpTS5zQ
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018

73' | CONNOR ALBA (LUKA PRPA)

Check out this beauty by @connor_alba to make it 3-0! The #MarquetteSoccer attack has rekindled the magic tonight. On the way to 3 #BEfutbol points! pic.twitter.com/kthpCNXig2
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018

83' | LUKAS SUNESSON (DIEGO NUNEZ)

BAR DOWN! Lukas Sunesson with a fantastic finish to open the flood gates against St. John's here at Valley Fields. #BEfutbol #MarquetteSoccer pic.twitter.com/1QPd9AqIBd
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018

POSTGAME REACTION

Postgame reaction from head coach @Loobe21 after #MarquetteSoccer picked up a huge 3️⃣ points in the #BEfutbol table. pic.twitter.com/eSK9Fc0oFr
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018

Several key individual efforts tonight, including @Luka_Prpa who tallied a goal and two assists in the win. His thoughts on the victory: pic.twitter.com/G5cYNwOviY
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) October 14, 2018