September 10, 2006

Box Score

BROOKLYN, NY - Host Long Island University scored 15:03 into the match and again in the last 10 minutes to top New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2-0, in the second day's play in the LIU Soccer Classic.

LIU freshman Ryan Williams picked up his first college goal, assisted by Mohammed Mashriqi at 15:03. That goal held up as the only score of the game until Williams assisted Ryan Vanderkin on a counterattack with 9:26 left in the match.

Both goalkeepers made some difficult saves and the Blackbirds' Alex Fatovic was credited with 9 stops in recording the shutout. NJIT's Josh Osit made 10 saves, including a sprawling stop on a shot by Jukka Lehto with 35:45 left.

When the score was still 1-0, the Highlanders had several strong bids to tie, including a half-volley by Greg Spaulding with just under 30 minutes left that was stopped by Fatovic. Spaulding and Scott Rietze represented NJIT on the all-tournament team.

"Their first goal was a world-class play," said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. "If we could get points for possession, we'd have a better record. We're playing well between the boxes, but since the first game (a 5-0 win over Iona), we've missed something in the attack and in the defense.

"We're playing better and Josh (Osit) has been strong for us in goal. We just have to finish some of our opportunities and things will turn in our favor."

NJIT's only action in the coming week is a Wednesday, 3:30 pm game at Central Connecticut in New Britain.