HILLSIDE, NJ—Senior Mamadou Guirassy and freshman Thomas Radon registered a goal for NJIT in the Highlanders 2-1 victory over visiting USC Upstate in the 2017 ASUN Conference opener Wednesday afternoon at Kean University East Campus Facility.

NJIT, which remained ranked No. 3 in the latest Southeast Region poll, returned back to the win column Wednesday, improving to 6-1-2, 1-0 in the ASUN while USC Upstate drops to 2-5-0 overall, 0-1 in the ASUN.

The Highlander goal scorers were Guirassy, who scored his nation-leading 10^th goal of the season in the 39^th minute and Radon, who notched his first collegiate goal of his career in the 75^th minute. 

Freshman Pablo Jimenez was credited with the assist on Guirassy’s goal and classmate Nicholas Kozdron posted the assist on Radon’s goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper Victor Pujades combined for a strong performance in goal with five saves while USC Upstate’s starting goalkeeper Santiago Restrepo recorded three saves before leaving the match with a leg injury.  Backup keeper CJ Cluck finished the final 30 minutes between the pipes, stopping two Highlander shots.

In the 16^th minute, off a direct kick, USC Upstate took the first shot of the match on a header, which sailed high by Michelangelo Dovidio.

Radon nearly put the Highlanders ahead in the 24^th minute on a shot from the top of the box but Restrepo elevated and punched the ball over the cross bar, resulting in a corner kick for the Highlanders.

An opportunity for the Spartans in the 36^th minute came off a free kick served to the far post to junior forward Anson Girone whose header was inches away from finding the back of the net.

The Highlanders got on the board in the 39^th minute after a long pass from Pablo Jimenez to Guirassy, who carried the ball from the midfield, beating three defenders and slipping the ball past Restrepo, for a 1-0 lead.

NJIT held a 1-0 advantage after the first 45 minutes and edged the visitors in shots, 5-3 (4-0 on goal) and corner kicks, 4-2.

USC Upstate had an early chance to score in the second half, off a cross to junior midfielder Jaedon Williamson, but his shot went wide.

An exceptional save by NJIT’s Victor Pujades in the 52^nd minute after a blast from 30 yards by Girone.  Pujades stretched out for a diving save in the 55^th minute on a shot by Emilio Portaluppi, which curled to the right corner.

NJIT added an insurance goal in the 75^th minute on a lead pass by Kozdron up the field to Radon, who blasted a shot from the top of the box to the left of keeper for his first collegiate goal.

USC Upstate got within a goal of the Highlanders in the 77^th minute on a give-and-go from Sebastian Quinteros to Ryan Herbert.  Herbert received the pass inside the box and tucked away past a diving Pujades.

Guirassy nearly scored his second goal of the game in the 79^th minute, finding space at the top of the box, launching a shot that hit the cross bar.

Another opportunity for NJIT in the 83^rd minute as Radon led Guirassy with a pass and got around his defender, blasting one to the far post but Cluck came up with the stop.

NJIT will return to action on Saturday, September 23 when the Highlanders visit George Washington at 2pm.

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