Oct. 15, 2006

Box Score

FARMVILLE, VA - Jo Rene Valentin's goal in the third minute of the second overtime period lifted New Jersey Institute of Technology to a 1-0 win at Atlantic Soccer Conference rival Longwood Sunday afternoon.

The victory, their first on the road, boosted the Highlanders to 2-1-1 in the Atlantic Soccer Conference, solidifying their hopes of qualifying for the four-team ASC postseason tournament. The ASC tournament champion earns an automatic spot in the annual NCAA Division I College Cup tournament field.

NJIT, in its second year of postseason eligibility in Division I, has two remaining conference games, which will be played away on the next two Saturdays--October 21 at Florida Atlantic and October 28 at Adelphi. Adelphi and Hartwick lead the conference with 10 points apiece (3 points for a win, 1 for a tie), while Philadelphia has 9 points and NJIT has 7.

The Highlanders, 2-1-1 in their last four matches overall, got the game-winning goal at 102:59, as Valentin, the powerful junior forward, took a throw-in from Clay Smith and carried the ball inside the box, where he fired the ball past Longwood goalkeeper Brandt Youmans.

NJIT used two goalkeepers in the shutout, with starter Josh Osit playing the first 18:42 and Collin Cunning finishing the last 84:17. Cunning was credited with all 10 Highlander saves. Youmans played all 102:59 in goal for the Lancers, who are 0-2-2 in the ASC, including a tie with conference co-leader Adelphi two days earlier.

Sunday's win for the Highlanders was their first on another team's field at the Division I level. Their first Division I win, in September 2005 against Manhattan, was a neutral-site win on the field at Monmouth and this season's two previous wins over Iona and Howard were home on Lubetkin Field.

Next on the schedule is a non-conference road contest, as the Highlanders visit Saint Peter's for a 3 pm match Wednesday in Jersey City, NJ.