NEWARK, NJ--The NJIT men's soccer team played to a 2-2 double overtime draw in the home opener for the Highlanders on Labor Day against Fordham in non-conference action at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

Monday marked the first home match for the NJIT men's soccer program since the 2015 season.  The state-of-the-art facility will be the home for NJIT men's and women's soccer and men's lacrosse programs.  When paired with the Wellness and Events Center, it gives the Highlanders one of the elite athletic venues in the Northeast.

NJIT (1-0-1) struck first in the 26th minute, as redshirt junior Rene White netted his third goal of the season on a penalty kick into the right side of the goal.  The Highlanders received the ball in the box where Fordham defender was called for a foul, awarding NJIT a penalty kick.

"The penalty was very good for us, we didn't have the momentum in that point in the game," White added.  "I didn't have a lot of chances personally, so I am glad I was able to get that penalty and put it away early."

White, who scored a pair of goals and tallied in an assist in the Highlanders' 7-0 shutout victory at Sacred Heart to open the 2019 campaign, collected his 20th career goal.

The home team went ahead, 2-0, five minutes later, on a cross by junior transfer Gerald Cubero from the right side, finding Thomas Radon, who finished 12 yards out and to the right of the Rams keeper, notching his second goal of the season.

"It was a very well fought out match and I thought we had the upper hand at 2-0," head coach Fernando Barboto commented.  "We battled and showed a lot of heart playing at home against a team that is very direct.  We scored some nice goals with great chances to score and just missed out on the W."

Fordham (0-1-1) cut the Highlander deficit to 2-1 after a long throw by Jack Sluys into the six-yard box, where Filippo Ricupati fought off two Highlander defenders, finishing on a tough angle, chipping the ball just under the crossbar.

The Rams netted the tying goal in the 85th minute on a penalty kick.  Joergen Oland tucked away his first goal of the year into the upper right, knotting the match at 2-2.

In overtime, both teams had multiple opportunities at the golden goal.  Senior Andrew Nino with an chance in the 94th minute on a free kick, which hit the top right corner of the goal and out of play.  A final chance for the home team in the 109th minute sailed wide off the foot of Cubero.

Visiting Fordham held the advantage in overall shots 26-10 as well as a 7-3 edge on corner kicks.

NJIT's Radon and Diogo Ferreira each combined for three shots apiece.  Freshman goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys stopped a match-best six saves in 110:00 minutes of action.

The Highlanders will play two straight on the road at first-time opponents – Old Dominion on September 6 and VCU on September 8.  Old Dominion, which plays in the C-USA combined for 11 wins in 2018 while VCU, competing in the Atlantic 10, finished with 10 wins.


 

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