JAMAICA, N.Y. -- St. Johns senior forward Jeff Matteo (Stormville, N.Y.) said that he always looks for his classmate, and best friend, Shalrie Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y.) when it comes to a set-piece. Matteo found his classmate at just the right time on Saturday, sending a free kick into the box to Joseph, who put his shot from six yards out past Penn State goalkeeper Ryan Sickman at the 128:36 mark, lifting eighth-ranked St. Johns to a 2-1 NCAA Tournament Third Round win over the Nittany Lions in front of 1,522 fans at Stiles Field on the campus of Adelphi University. The win moves St. Johns into the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. They will play the winner of Saturday nights match between UCLA and top-ranked Southern Methodist next weekend for a chance to go to the Final Four.

It was a tough game, St. Johns Head Coach Dave Masur said. It was what we expected throughout, tough and physical. Everyone who stepped on the field did a good job today.

After a pair of scoreless overtime periods, Matteo took the free kick from the far side of the field, about four yards above the box, looking for Joseph. Hes always my target, Matteo said of Joseph. He is big and always makes something happen, either with his feet or his head.

The first half was very evenly played, with each team taking three shots. The Nittany Lions took the 1-0 lead, however, when Derek Potteiger sent an end-line cross toward the box to senior Ricardo Villar, whose header from six yards about beat St. Johns goalkeeper Guy Hertz (Ramat-Hasharon, Israel).

Trailing 1-0 at the break, Masur did what he has down the stretch this season, moving Joseph to his natural forward position. Joseph, who led the team in scoring last season, has been playing defense much of this season because of injuries, but late in the season has moved back up. The move paid off just under two minutes into the second half.

Freshman forward Andre Schmid (Sacramento, Calif.), who was active all day and created many opportunities for the Red Storm, sent a ball toward the box to Joseph. Joseph did not see an opening and sent a touch pass back to sophomore forward Angel Rodriguez (Toms River, N.J.), who blasted a shot from 14 yards out, beating Sickman to the upper right, tying the game at 1-apiece at 46:33. The Red Storm dominated play through the second half, sending 11 shots on goal. It appeared the team might take a 2-1 lead immediately after tying the game when Schmid was taken down from behind by Penn States Chris Stout, who was given a red card and ejected from the game.

Following a corner kick by Matteo in the 71st minute, sophomore Matia Damiani (Foggia, Italy) had a shot blocked and junior Alberto Duenas (Hawthorne, Calif.) had his saved. Joseph had three shots alone after his goal in the second half, while Matteo added two.

As the game moved into the overtime periods, the Red Storm continued to control play. St. Johns had six shots in the second period, with sophomore Simone Salinno (Lucera, Italy) sending one high and then having another blocked, while freshman Matt Groenwald (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) had his saved by Hickman. Late in the period, Rodriguez took a shot off of a Matteo corner that was saved, and then minutes later took a diving header that went just wide.

Penn State had several chance, with Villar taking four shots on goal, but Hertz came up with several big saves and sophomore center-back Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y.) had several defensive saves to preserve the win.

Joseph, however, took charge in the third overtime, taking two shots before getting the feed from Matteo and lifting St. Johns to its third Elite Eight appearance since 1996. Good things happen to good people, Masur said of Joseph. He has worked hard all season. He has been out of the spotlight, but he has stepped it up for us now.

St. Johns Penn State, 24-11, took nine corner kicks to their three. Hertz finished with four saves, notching his 12th shutout this season, while Sickman had eight saves.