Box Score
ORANGEBURG, SC--Erika Taugher and Emma Vinski each scored goals and visiting NJIT came away with a 2-0 women's soccer win Sunday afternoon at South Carolina State in the United Soccer Conference opener for each team.
Taugher, NJIT's leading career scorer in women's soccer, converted a penalty kick for the Highlanders and Vinski's tally came after a free kick with an assist for Christi Taylor. Both goals came in the second half. The goals were the second of the season for both Taugher and Vinski, while Taylor registered her first assist of the season,
Taugher's goal Sunday raised her team-leading season points total to eight on two goals and four assists. Her career totals, all of which top the NJIT all-time lists, are: 15 goals, 15 assists and 45 points.
Vinski has six points this season on two goals and two assists.
On the other end of the field, NJIT sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Mele posted her first shutout of the season. Mele posted three shutouts as a freshman in 2007. All-USC goalkeeper Alechia Brothers allowed two scores for the Lady Bulldogs.
Last year in Newark, NJIT and South Carolina State played to a 1-1 regular season tie in two overtimes, as Brothers made a series of spectacular saves to preserve the tie. The Highlanders won handily, 4-0, when the teams met again in the postseason United Soccer Conference tournament, which was hosted by Utah Valley.
In addition to opening United Soccer Conference play, Sunday's game at South Carolina State involved NJIT's farthest road trip of the season and it also concluded a stretch that has seen the Highlanders play the last six matches away from home. Now, the Highlanders will play their next four games at home. Three of those games will be conference matchups. Indeed, five of NJIT's last six regular season contests, including the South Carolina State game, are United Soccer Conference tilts.
Immediately ahead for the Highlanders are matchups with the two top teams in the USC--Utah Valley and Longwood. NJIT lost twice to Utah Valley in 2007, dropping both a regular season meeting and a postseason contest, both of which were played in Orem, Utah. Longwood was undefeated regular season and postseason conference champion in 2007.
The Highlanders will host Utah Valley on Wednesday at 4 pm on Lubetkin Field. Longwood will visit the Highlanders on Saturday at 11 am as part of NJIT Day.
