NEWARK, NJ—Visiting Long Island University scored a header goal in each half to come away with a 2-0 non-conference women's soccer win against NJIT Friday night on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.

The win for LIU (3-4) was the third in the last four starts for the Blackbirds, who dropped their first three contests in 2011 after finishing the previous season with an overall record of 15-3-3. NJIT is still seeking its first win after seven tries.

Long Island got the only goal of the first half on a header in the 36th minute by junior Alana Wohlers from in front and straight on. Evelyn Calderon was credited with the assist on the goal that came seconds after an LIU corner kick. The goal was the first of the season for Wohlers, a junior midfielder.

The Blackbirds picked up their second goal on a header, as well. The score came during what seemed to be a slow period with nothing much happening for either side and the ball bouncing around in LIU's attacking third. However, that changed in an instant, when LIU's Nicole Labo controlled the ball and sent a pass ahead to Jen Spicer, who nodded home her second goal of the season at 62:13.

Each team's goalkeeper went the distance and recorded seven saves, with LIU's Jennifer Bannon, a junior, posting her first shutout of the year. Sophomore Anna Kornmuller couldn't prevent the two goals, but she made some fine stops, particularly in 1-v-1 spots with her team pushing up in an attempt to get on the scoreboard.

Facing a strong established program, NJIT held its own in the opening 45 minutes. The total shots gave a slight edge to the visitors (7-6), but the Highlanders were on target five times to four for LIU.

The Blackbirds gave NJIT more scares in the second half, but the Highlanders were never overwhelmed or outclassed. The final totals showed the Blackbirds with a 17-11 lead in total shots and 9-7 in shots on goal. The corner kicks were 6-5 for NJIT.

“We can't get over the hump yet,” said coach Sergio Gonzalez, in his first year at the NJIT helm. “I don't feel we're far off; collectively, as a team, I thought is was a great effort against a well-coached, good team that is used to winning. The difference tonight was that they finished their chances and we haven't been able to do that.

“I think we've gotten better each game and we did a good job in the build up to the goal. But we have to have that attitude that (we) saw from LIU, where we start put the ball in front of the goal and then are more purposeful when the chances are there.”

The proverbial hump first appeared nine minutes in, when NJIT's Meryl Hershfield challenged LIU's Bannon to make a big save on a header from in front after a serve from right wing by Megan Dellavalle.

In the 16th minute, the Blackbirds' Nicole Labo, open from 10 yards out, took a shot straight on that was saved by Kornmuller. 

Leading by a goal at the half, LIU nearly added to its lead in the first 40 seconds after the intermission, as Ariana Calderon broke in for a one-on-one with Kormuller, but the NJIT keeper cut down the angle and saved the shot, keeping the Highlanders within a goal.

Down 2-0 in the 72nd minute, NJIT was awarded a free kick in the goal area just to the right of the penalty spot, when the referee whistled the Blackbirds keeper for holding the ball too long. However, a low drive from Mariam Bastawros on the free kick was blocked at the defensive wall and Hershfield's shot off the ensuing rebound went high.

The Blackbirds nearly made it 3-0 in the 80th minute, when Ariana Calderon, with a clear look, took a hard shot from 15 yards away. Kornmuller made the stop, deflecting the ball back out into the field. Caroline Kaplan controlled the rebound for LIU, but her shot from 15 yards away sailed high.

The Highlanders will return to action on Sunday at 1 pm, when they host Lehigh in another non-conference match at Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.