Oct. 10, 2007

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, NJ - Trailing 1-0 for most of the night, Rutgers struck in the 74th minute and again in the 82nd minute to pull out a 2-1 men's soccer win over upset-minded NJIT Wednesday night.

Senior captain Robert Herrera, who had a strong game on both ends of the field, scored his first goal of the season for NJIT at 6:55 and the Highlanders stayed on top for more than 66 minutes before Rutgers pulled even.

The equalizer came on a breakaway at midfield, a fine move in the box and then a crossing pass by Dilly Duka, who fed Tino Waked for the first Rutgers goal of the evening at 73:21.

Rutgers got what became the game-winning goal at 81:36 and again, it was the assist that made the play. Adam Sternberger, defended one-on-one and forced wide by NJIT's Herrera, took the ball hard to the touchline. Just before sliding over the line, Sternberger sent a fine crossing pass to Kevin O'Connor, who made no mistake on the finish.

Indeed, the two goalkeepers made one save apiece in the entertaining game, but neither of them had a chance on any of the game's three goals. Josh Osit went the distance for NJIT, as did senior Matt VonOekel for Rutgers.

NJIT's Herrera, whose role is defense-oriented, picked up his fifth career goal on the first shot of the game for either team. Gustav Warfving sent a corner kick left-to-right and it landed free in a crowd in front of the goal. Herrera pounced on the loose ball and blasted it past VanOekel from less than 10 yards out.

"In practice we emphasized looking to win the first ball (on corner kicks), but if not, to get any ball that dropped," said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes, who was a two-time all-American player at Rutgers in the 1990s and was coaching against his alma mater for the first time. "That's exactly what happened and it's great to see something from practice carry over into the game."

NJIT, which has tended to be even or down a goal for long stretches in games this season, got to see a 1-0 lead from the other side and the Highlanders made the most of it for more than an hour of game time.

The overall shots favored Rutgers by a wide margin, 21-6. But the quality of the scoring chances was another thing and Rutgers had three shots on goal to two for NJIT. The corner kicks, 10-6 for Rutgers, were probably a better measure of the territorial play.

"We knew Rutgers was going to dominate possession because of the kind of players they have," said Lopes. "But we kept our composure and once we got the lead we made it difficult for them. A lot of their shots weren't clear shots."

The Highlanders had three excellent chances in the second half--two before Rutgers ever got on the board and a third with 1:25 left, as the Highlanders tried to pull back even.

Early in the second half, NJIT's Gustav Warfving stole a clearing pass and had a clear path to VanOekel and the Rutgers goal, but he was thrown to the ground about a stride short of the penalty area as he attempted to carry the ball closer for a shot. The ensuing free kick by Osvaldo Perez went wide from 19 yards.

Four minutes later Erik Magnusson found himself one-on-one after a pretty pass from Perez, but Magnusson's hard shot from 15 yards away was deflected by VanOekel.

Unable to push their lead past 1-0, the Highlanders continued to play excellent defensive soccer, but could not manage either a win or a tie.

NJIT's last gasp came midway through the 88th minute, when Magnusson made a quick pass ahead from the center of the field to Warfving who pushed the ball down the left wing. Warfving's crossing pass through the goalmouth was intended for Pat Amato, who was coming hard down the middle of the box. Unfortunately for NJIT, the pass was just beyond Amato, who couldn't quite get a foot on it as it crossed his path.

"I am proud of them," said Lopes of his team. "Our guys understood the importance of playing this game against a good team and showing everyone that we can compete. We hope that translates into more confidence in ourselves and in doing what we have to do in the rest of the games."

The Highlanders, who have a tie and a hard-fought one-goal away loss to an elite team in their last two contests, are off until Tuesday, October 16, when they host Atlantic Soccer Conference foe Longwood at 7 pm on Lubetkin Field.