NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Senior Stephen McGeever scored his first goal of the season and the game-winner for the Highlanders, in their 3-2, thrilling win over Niagara on Friday night.

The Highlanders (3-1-1) outshot Niagara (1-2-1) 19-8 in the win. Jonathan Onyeaka and Mamadou Guirassy added goals for NJIT while Rickardo Oldham recorded two assists.

The Highlanders got an early chance off a corner kick by Oldham. NJIT's Onyeaka, a 6-foot-5 defender, got his head on the ball but it sailed wide of the net.

NJIT came out on top in shots after the first half, 7-3.

The second half proved to be the more exciting half where all five goals were scored.

The Highlanders opened up the second half with two corner kicks by senior Oldham, pushing for a goal.

In the 51st minute, Oldham and Onyeaka connected again this time, putting NJIT on the board, when Oldham took a free kick and junior Onyeaka connected with a header, for his first goal of the season.

Minutes later, Niagara's Mbongeni Tshuma scored his first goal of the season off a pass from Mackenzie Roach to the far right post for the Purple Eagles, knotting the game at 1-1.

Guirassy and the Highlanders were not ready to give up, and less than a minute later the junior finished a pass from Furkan Kokcu.  Guirassy received the pass from the left side of the box, putting NJIT on top again, 2-1.

Niagara's Konrad Zydowicz tied the score at 2-2 off a free kick from Fabrizio Chiari that came off the head of Tshuma and finished by Zydowicz.

For the fifth goal of the half, NJIT's McGeever headed down the ball off a corner from Oldham in the 83rd minute sealing the win for the Highlanders.

Senior goalkeeper Marco Luna made the start for NJIT and stopped three shots in his first win of season while Steve Casey made three saves for the Purple Eagles.

NJIT will travel to St. Francis Brooklyn on September 14 and face the Terriers at 7pm.

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