MORGANTOWN, W.V. - St. John's captured the 2009 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship title in a penalty kick shootout at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on the campus of West Virginia University on Nov. 15. The Red Storm played Notre Dame to a scoreless tie through two overtime periods, and grabbed the title in penalty kicks 5-3.

In the penalty kick round in order taken by team: For St. John's - Nelson Becerra - good; Tadeu Terra - good; Bjorn de Hoop - good; Joel Gustafsson - good and Connor Lade - good. For Notre Dame - Matt Armstrong - good; Michael Thomas - missed; Dillon Powers - good; Bright Dike - good.

St. John's wins its record eighth BIG EAST men's soccer title, and has appeared in the conference final for the third time in four years and for the 12th overall time. Notre Dame played for the conference title for the second time in three years and for the fourth overall time.

The first half had constant change of possessions with neither teams producing a lot of shots on goal. St. John's had two on net, while Notre Dame took one in the first half.

Notre Dame produced a quality shot off a corner kick with just over 18 minutes remaining in the first half. After placing the corner kick into the goal box, the St. John's defense headed the ball back into play. Notre Dame senior Dave Donohue took a high shot to the near post but it went sailing out of bounds.

Minutes later, St. John's set up a play to try and get on the board. Sophomore Walter Hines played a ball from the midfield to senior Nelson Becerra, who was at the top of the box. Becerra passed the ball to senior David Reed, who settled the ball and took a low, hard shot to the opposite post, which cleared the goal.

The second half was played similar to the first half, as neither team could get on the board. Notre Dame senior Bright Dike nearly placed a header in the goal on a pass from junior Jed Brovsky at the 34:30 mark. 

St. John's best chance of the half came with just under a minute left in regulation. Senior Nelson Becerra took a free kick outside of the box. His first attempt hit the Notre Dame wall and the second off a deflection was again tipped off to the side by the Notre Dame defense.

Just under eight minutes in the first overtime, Dike headed the ball past the left goal post on a pass from Brovsky. Moments later, off a throw in, junior Josh Thiermann launched a high shot above the crossbar.

In the first minute of the second overtime, St. John's setup a play off a corner kick but Notre Dame was able to clear it out and move up field. The remainder of the period was played evenly between the teams.

Notre Dame produced four shots on goal, while St. John's hit three on goal. St. John's keeper redshirt-senior Derby Carrillo had four saves, while Notre Dame senior keeper Andrew Quinn made three stops.

The 2009 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship Team includes: Justin Kahle, Providence; Kenney Walker, Louisville; Othaniel Yanez, Louisville; Aaron Maund, Notre Dame; Michael Thomas, Notre Dame; Jeb Brovsky, Notre Dame; Walter Hines, St. John's; David Reed, St. John's; Connor Lade, St. John's; Derby Carrillo, St. John's and Sverre Wegge-Gunshus.

Hines was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Performer, while Carrillo was the Most Outstanding Defensive Performer.

- BIG EAST -