NEWARK, NJ—NJIT scored twice in the second half and the Highlanders, backstopped by junior goalkeeper Sadie Mele, posted their first shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over visiting Rider Sunday afternoon on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.

NJIT (2-3) got on the board in the 56th minute with the first college goal for freshman Chacha Naito and then the Highlanders got an insurance score on a Rider own goal  five minutes later.

Mele, who has played every minute in goal since arriving at NJIT in 2007, made five saves against Rider (3-4) for her sixth career shutout.

The teams were scoreless through the first 55 minutes, but that ended when NJIT's Naito gathered a rebound about 16 yards from the goal and sent a high shot that deflected off the fingertips of Rider's starting goalkeeper Alex Post and into the net.

The play was set up moments earlier when the Highlanders were awarded a free kick from just outside the top of the box. The free kick was blocked by the Rider defense, but the ball came back out to Naito, who quickly sent it back and into the Broncs' net.

NJIT's second tally was an own goal by Rider, but it was the result of heavy pressure from the Highlanders.

Kori Washington and fellow Highlander Piper Lunan were closing in Post, who came out and tried to break up the play near the penalty spot.

The ball stayed alive and Post remained in a tangle of bodies as the ball rolled across the goalmouth. NJIT freshman Gechi Ukaegbu was alone near the left post waiting to knock it in, but a Rider defender, trying to clear, got there first and inadvertently scored an own goal.

NJIT had some scoring chances in the first half, but was unable to finish and Mele made perhaps her biggest save some 20 minutes in. Rider's Kaitlin Wylie broke free just past midfield and Mele, as the last line of defense, came out and made a do-or-die leg save one-on-one to abort the breakaway about 30 yards out into the field.

In the 35th minute, Amanda Dotten of NJIT hit a dangerous shot that had to be cleared by Rider defender Angela Monaco.

The Highlanders began the pressure that would lead to their two goals from the outset of the second half and it showed in the 48th minute when Christi Taylor took a hard shot from 20 yards that hit the side netting.

NJIT, which completed two matches in 44 hours with the win over Rider, will be off until Friday at 7 pm, when it hosts Mount St. Mary's on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.