NEWARK, NJ—All of the numbers except the most important one—goals scored—tilted heavily toward NJIT Tuesday night, but in the end, the Highlanders and visiting Howard played 110 minutes to a scoreless tie in men's soccer on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.

NJIT dominated the shots, ball possession and territorial play, but a combination of solid work in front of the goal by the Howard defense, some terrific goalkeeping by Bison sophomore Larry Turner and a bit of luck kept the Highlanders off the board in the Atlantic Soccer Conference contest.

The total shots favored NJIT, 28-15, and the shots on goal were even more lopsided (12-1). Still, Turner, who is 6-foot-4, 196 pounds, and athletic, was equal to nearly every shot, making 12 saves, many of them big ones.

“Howard has always had good goalkeepers” said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. “(Turner) is big, athletic and sure-handed. He played our shots well and the ones he didn't save, the post got.”

Each team hit the goal frame twice and there was another sequence where Turner got a piece of the ball, deflecting it up and into the crossbar. That was part of a flurry in the 27th minute that saw NJIT's Jack McVey strike a blast from the top of the box that Turner deflected to the crossbar. The ball, still alive, rebounded to Pete Walker, who headed it off the crossbar seconds later.

NJIT's territorial dominance was underlined by a 13-3 advantage in corner kicks.

On the other end, Highlander freshman goalkeeper John Ricketti made one save in recording his second college shutout. Although he needed just one save, Ricketti was busy, nonetheless. He ranged far off his line on more than one occasion to thwart Bison counterattacks.

Ricketti was aided by the post twice, the last time on a shot by Howard's Phillip Borde with three minutes remaining in the second and final overtime..

Turner, the Bison goalkeeper, made one of his better saves less than a minute later, diving to his right to stop a low, hard angling shot from 15 yards out by Nathan D'Aversa of NJIT.

D'Aversa's try was a quality shot, but many attempts by the Highlanders came from outside the box, leaving little room for error and sailing high or wide.

“I thought we could have done better crossing the ball and getting men in position in the box,” said Lopes. “But we competed well and we didn't give up a goal. That was good, but we couldn't find a way to score.”

NJIT is 1-1-1 in conference play and 4-11-1 overall, while Howard goes to 1-2-1 in the ASC and 2-11-3 overall.

NJIT will play its regular season finale on Saturday at 6 pm, when it hosts ASC foe Houston Baptist on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium. Saturday will be Senior Night, as the Highlanders recognize their five departing players.