NEWARK, N.J. -- For the second consecutive match, the 86th minute proved to be winning time for the Fairleigh Dickinson men’s soccer team. Junior #David Cornwell#’s first career goal with a little over four minutes remaining capped an unbelievable second half comeback to give the Knights a 4-3 win over NJIT. With the victory, FDU improves to 2-1-0 on the season, while the Highlanders fall to 2-1-0 overall.

The Knights scored all four of their goals in the final 24 minutes of the match as they held a one-man advantage after NJIT goalkeeper Lars Maalen-Johansen was ejected after picking up his second card with 37 minutes remaining in the contest. FDU took advantage of the Highlanders playing with 10 players and took advantage of facing backup goalkeeper Jason Scolaro.

Senior #Jack McVey# got things rolling with a penalty kick in the 67th minute to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Five minutes later, Cornwell found sophomore #Nico Wright#, who found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, which cut the Highlanders’ lead to 3-2.

Wright was not done scoring and beat Scolaro from 10 yards out to tie the game at three, only two minutes after his first goal.

With time winding down in the second half, Wright and Cornwell switched roles as Wright delivered a pass to Cornwell in the middle of the box, who delivered the game winner for the Knights.

Things looked bleak for FDU in the first half as they allowed three first-half goals to find themselves down 3-0 at the break. Falk Siegel scored at the beginning of the ninth minute as he converted a header off Jason Gonzalez’s corner kick to give NJIT an early 1-0 lead.

Franco Gamero put the home team up 2-0 after he broke past two defenders and was able to score.

Nine minutes before halftime, the Highlanders extended their lead to 3-0 on Jason Chippy’s goal.

The Knights had their chances over the first 45 minutes as six of their seven shots were on goal, while outshooting NJIT, 7-5, and holding a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

To start the second half, senior #Jeffery Barrenchea# hit the post with a shot. After a shot went wide by sophomore #Anders Vest-Hansen# in the 52nd minute, Maalen-Johansen picked up his second card, sending him to the locker room and forcing the Highlanders to play with 10 players the rest of the way.

FDU outshot NJIT 10-4 in the second half and 17-9 for the match. Junior #Jacob Lissek# made two saves in goal for the Knights, while Maalen-Johansen made six of the Highlanders’ seven saves.

FDU will return to action on Friday, Sept. 7 when they return home to play a 7 p.m. match against Albany at University Stadium.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Favorite Picks of the 2025 MLS Draft

Commitments: Bradley Heads to the Big East

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Girls