Box Score
PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rutgers scored two goals in the span of 19 seconds in the 34th minute, and the Scarlet Knights took a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer victory over visiting NJIT Wednesday night on Yurcak Field.
The Highlanders scored midway through the first half, taking a 1-0 lead at 20:54 on the first goal of the season for senior Osvaldo Perez, assisted by freshman Jack McVey.
McVey played a cross through the penalty area where Perez fired the ball in the bottom left corner of the net, staking NJIT to a 1-0 lead. McVey has registered one assist in the last three contests, ranking him second on the team behind senior Gustav Warfving who stands at five.
The NJIT lead stood for 14 minutes until Scarlet Knights freshman forward Sam Archer pulled the home team even with his first goal of the season, unassisted.
Archer collected a loose ball that was cleared out by NJIT goalkeeper Ryan Sutherland, launching a 30-yard shot from the center of the field, tying the score at 1-1.
Rutgers' (7-7) Ibrahim Kamara produced the game-winning goal, assisted by Archer and Nate Bourdeau. The sophomore received the ball from Archer, teeing up his shot from outside the penalty area at 34:40. The goal was Kamara's sixth of the season.
Rutgers goalkeeper Alex Morgans made three saves in posting the win, while NJIT's Sutherland finished with five saves.
The final statistics favored Rutgers: 19-11 in overall shots (7-to-4 shots on goal); six corner kicks to three for the Highlanders.
A scoring opportunity opened up for NJIT junior Chico Lugo, in the second half, as he got behind the Scarlet Knights defense striking the ball low but Rutgers goalkeeper Morgans came up with the save with 18 minutes remaining in the match.
NJIT's last good chance came with 4:00 left in the match when the Highlanders were awarded a free kick inches outside the penalty box. Warfving struck the free kick, but it sailed high.
NJIT (4-10) will return to Atlantic Soccer Conference play in their next match when they visit Houston Baptist on Saturday at 3 pm (CT).
