NEWARK, NJ—Gabriella D'Aprile scored a breakaway goal with 48 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, lifting Iona to a 2-1 non-conference women's soccer win over NJIT Monday night on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.

The Highlanders, now 3-5-1, with four of the losses coming by a single goal, have played three overtime contests at home this season, winning the first against Drexel and tying the second against Mount St. Mary's before the loss to Iona.

NJIT got on the board first Monday night, thanks to the first goal of the season for junior back Michelle Borth, assisted by freshman Meryl Hershfield in the 32nd minute.

It was the first goal for Borth since her freshman season in 2007, when she scored twice.

Iona pulled even less than six minutes later on a breakaway score by Kerrie Deignan, assisted by Amber Blocher at 37:10. Deignan, who scored her second goal of the season for the 3-8-1 Gaels, was dangerous all night, regularly using her speed to create an advantage on the outside. She finished with five total shots, including three on goal.

Once the score was tied, the teams proceeded to play over an hour of scoreless soccer before D'Aprile netted the game-winner on a play that saw four Iona attackers facing only 55 yards of open field between them and NJIT goalkeeper Sadie Mele.

Mele made six saves for the Highlanders, while Iona goalkeeper Kelly Mahoney stopped five shots en route to the victory.

The total shots favored NJIT, 19-15, while the shots on goal were 8-6 for Iona. The Gaels also had a slim 3-2 edge in corner kicks.

The Highlander goal was a set piece, with Hershfield, the freshman sending a high free kick from 30 yards away into the goal area, where Borth, who, at 5-10 with good jumping ability, drove the ball home with a strong header.

The NJIT goal was not without its price, however, as standout sophomore central defender Cielianna Pasiciel, who was also positioned up front as a potential target, sustained a sprained ankle in the scramble in front of the goal. Pasiciel was helped off the field by trainer Matt Koscs and head coach Kevin Leacock and did not play the last 68 minutes after the injury.

Iona, which got several breakaways from midfield on in toward the box, cashed in one of them when Deignan received a long pass out of the back from Blocher. Racing down the left side from midfield, Deignan veered toward the center of the field to face Mele one-on-one and beat the keeper to the far post in the 38th minute.

The opening 30 minutes of the second half saw a host of near misses on shots that barely went wide or high, but Deignan forced the save of the game from Mele with a run down right wing and a clear, hard shot in the 76th minute.

NJIT got the first good opportunity of overtime, but a shot by Erin Morris went just wide of the left post in the 92nd minute.

That would be the last attempt for the Highlanders and on the other end Mele made two more saves before Iona's decisive breakaway in the 100th minute.

Abby Dixon's 25-yard pass found D'Aprile near the center stripe, where she broke clear of the NJIT back line accompanied by three teammates, all running hard.

With no offside whistle forthcoming, NJIT's greatest hope rested on D'Aprile somehow misfiring. However, with three other Gaels available as targets if Mele came off her line too aggressively, the NJIT keeper was limited from coming too far out to make a challenge and D'Aprile, who attacked with confidence, made no mistake in finishing the play.

NJIT, which played six of its seven September contests at home, will begin October with another match on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium. The match, to be played Friday at 7 pm against South Carolina State, will be the first-ever Great West Conference match for NJIT women's soccer. The game will also be the first of six Great West Eastern Division contests for the Highlanders this season.