Box score
TEANECK, NJ—Fairleigh Dickinson got both of its goals within a first-half span of 1:05 and went on to defeat visiting NJIT, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon on FDU's University Field.
It was the first men's soccer meeting between the two schools since 1960, when NJIT, under its former name of Newark College of Engineering defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 2-0. NCE won all of its games that year until the national championship game of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which it tied and for a share of the national title.
Fairleigh's Fernando Bo Huthmacher broke a scoreless tie Tuesday afternoon at the 24:00 mark and the Knights added an insurance goal just 1:05 later before cementing the 2-0 win over the Highlanders the rest of the way.
Huthmacher's goal, unassisted, came after he picked off a clearance attempt by NJIT and then shot into the upper right corner.
FDU junior forward Samson Malijani struck at 25:05 on a feed from junior midfielder Serge Zulu. Malijani's fourth goal of the season was finished lower left, following Zulu's square ball.
“Early in the game, we didn't put enough pressure on them once they came in our half and they gained a lot of confidence on the ball,” said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. “With about 15 minutes left in the first half, we started to take that away, but by that time it was already 2-0.”
Both goalkeepers, NJIT senior Josh Osit and Fairleigh Dickinson freshman Carl Spence, made six saves apiece. Spence got the shutout in his first college start.
The total shots favored Fairleigh Dickinson, 18-10, and the shots on goal were 9-6 for the Knights.
Senior Eddie Romero was the shots leader for the Highlanders, with four, while Osvaldo Perez topped NJIT with two shots on goal.
“Eddie put himself in good scoring positions,” said Lopes. “He was just unlucky not to hit the target.
“We had three or four good chances in the second half and there was one where Chico (Lugo) sent in a cross and Eddie got off a strong header that barely missed (wide of the post).”
Next up for the Highlanders is the opening of Atlantic Soccer Conference play, as NJIT visits Longwood in Farmville, VA, for a 3 pm match on Saturday.
(goal descriptions courtesy of FDU Athletic Communications)
