JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The St. Johns mens soccer team, who have been a consistent power both in the BIG EAST and nationally, announced its tentative schedule for the upcoming spring season. Opponents will range from local rivals, BIG EAST conference opponents, USL professional teams, and even a local MLS team. Coming off of a successful 2002 campaign, the Red Storm, who finished 13-3-5 and were ranked No. 1 in the nation, look to sharpen their skills with five games during the month of April.

St. Johns will kick off its spring season with a match against local rival Long Island University on Saturday, April 5 at 11:30. They will then take on the New York Freedom, a member of the United Soccer League (USL) Professional Select Soccer League on Tuesday, April 8 at 8 pm. The USL Pro Select League will also provide the next opponent in the Long Island Rough Riders. That game will take place on Tuesday, April 15 at 8 pm. St. Johns will then host BIG EAST Conference rival, the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers on Wednesday, April 23 at 8 pm.

The Spring season finale will feature local Major League Soccer (MLS) team, the New York/ New Jersey MetroStars. A date and time for this contest has not been set. With the exception of the final game versus the MetroStars, all games will be played at Belson Stadium, the brand new home of St. John's soccer on the Queens campus.

The Red Storm, who have not missed an invitation to the NCAA Tournament since 1991, reached the Sweet 16 for an unprecedented 7th straight time last year. In addition, St. Johns received the 4th seed in the tournament; its highest seed in school history.

St. Johns is led by All-American senior back Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y.), who earned first team all-BIG EAST honors after an outstanding junior season. Wingert also was named the BIG EAST's Defensive Player of the Year and was to the Verizon Academic All-America Men's Soccer University Division team.