October 15, 2005

NEWARK, NJ - New Jersey Institute of Technology's only senior, Erin Salgado, playing her last career home game, was one of three different players to score for the Highlanders, lifting NJIT to its school-record seventh women's soccer win of the season, 3-1, over NCAA Division I opponent Delaware State on Saturday afternoon.

NJIT, which is in its 10 th season of women's soccer, previously won six games in 2001. This year's Highlanders are 7-4-2 overall with three games left on the schedule.

Salgado, the senior captain, has been part of the program for half of its existence. An injury redshirt in 2001, she returned in 2002, when she was named team MVP and received all-conference honors.

A four-year captain who is pursuing an MBA after earning a bachelor's degree in information technology, Salgado has appeared in a school-record 61 games. On Saturday, she scored her second goal of the season and the 13 th of her career, tying her with Cathy Wasko atop the NJIT career goals list.

The Highlanders, who dominated, outshooting Delaware State , 27-4, got on the board first, when freshman Briana Morales scored at 6:06, assisted by Stephanie Macias.

Salgado, who was honored in pregame ceremonies, made it 2-0 at 25:16 on a goal that came after the ball had caromed around in the penalty area following a flurry of NJIT shots.

Leading at the break, 2-0, the Highlanders got their third goal just 3:36 into the second half, as Dena Baskous scored from in close off a rebound of a shot by Amanda Bayiokos.

Delaware State got its goal just 29 seconds after the tally by Baskous. The Hornets, who had not gotten a shot in the first half, were awarded a corner kick when their first shot, by Jennifer Palmore, was deflected wide and over the end line by NJIT goalkeeper Bruna Lotufo.

Palmore took the corner kick and her attempt from the right corner curved into the goal, angling inside the far post, past a screened Lotufo at 49:05.

Delaware State goalkeeper Christina Benenour finished with 10 saves, while Lotufo registered one save for NJIT.

NJIT, which has four wins and a tie in its last five matches, gained its first non-conference win of the season and its first win in two tries this year against Division I opponents (the Highlanders lost the season opener at Division I Drexel).

The Highlanders, who are reclassifying to NCAA Division I from Division II, are wrapping up their last schedule of mostly Division II opponents. They will play a Division I schedule in 2006.

NJIT will return to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play on Wednesday, visiting Wilmington of Delaware in a 3:30 pm game.