HILLSIDE, NJ—Senior Mamadou Guirassy netted a pair of goals and the Highlanders clinched a spot in the 2017 ASUN Conference Tournament with a 4-1 win over visiting Jacksonville Saturday afternoon at Kean University East Campus Facility.

NJIT, which will make its second consecutive appearance in the ASUN Conference Tournament, moves to 3-1 in the ASUN, 8-5-2 overall while the visiting Dolphins fall to 1-2 in the ASUN, 3-8 overall.

The Highlanders scored three goals in the first 45 – all coming from their senior leaders: Guirassy (4:59), Danny Cordeiro (15:50) and Jonathan Onyeaka (30:08).

Cameron Grassmyer scored the lone goal for the Dolphins at 23:27.

Guirassy netted the only goal in the second half, his second of the game, with 1:12 remaining, to give the Highlanders a 4-1 victory.

The senior forward from Paris, France, leads the nation in goals (14) and total points (29).

NJIT keeper Victor Pujades stopped three Dolphin shots in the win.

Guirassy scored his first goal of the game in the fifth minute after a mis-play by the Jacksonville defense, passing the ball back to the keeper right in front of Guirassy. 

In the ninth minute, Jacksonville's Connor Lufkin with an opportunity to score the equalizer on a header just wide the near post off a corner kick.

Cordeiro doubled the Highlander score in the 16^thminute off a low cross by senior Phillip Costa from the left side to Cordeiro who snuck behind the Jacksonville defense for a 2-0 lead.  The goal for Cordeiro is his second consecutive and fourth of the season.

Grassmyer connected in the 24^th minute on a header off a free kick from Igor Ferreira.  Grassmyer's strike was put away to the near post.

NJIT 6-foot-5 defender Onyeaka scored his first goal of the season in the 30^th minute off a corner kick by Pablo Jimenez, elevating over the Dolphin defense.
 

Pujades made a point blank save inside the box off a header by Jacksonville's Sam Gardner in the final seconds of the first half.

Jacksonville with two opportunities in the first five minutes of the second half on back-to-back shots by Ejiroghene Mrabure.  Mrabure's first shot came from eight yards out, saved by Pujades and Mrabure's second shot, which he got under, sailed high over the cross bar.

Guirassy netted his second goal of the game with 1:12 left to play, receiving a pass from Thomas Radon from the midfield.  Guirassy with space on the right side, moved into the penalty area and put past the Jacksonville keeper.

NJIT will close out the non-conference portion of its schedule at Temple on October 17 at 3pm.

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