Box Score
 
NEWARK, NJ– Senior midfielder Meryl Hershfield, playing in the final home game of her career, scored a clutch goal with just five seconds remaining in the second overtime session, leading the NJIT women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over South Carolina State Saturday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
 
The amazing victory improved the Highlanders' overall record to 4-11-3 and 2-2 in the Great West Conference. South Carolina State dropped to 7-10 overall and 1-4 in the GWC.
 
NJIT women's head soccer coach Sergio Gonzalez couldn't believe how the Highlanders scored the game-winning goal.
 
“The clock was winding down and I thought Grace (sophomore defender Grace Seely) was going to try to just keep the ball,” Gonzalez said. “I thought they were going to hold possession to protect the tie.”
 
However, instead of the deadlock, the Highlanders went for the victory. Instead of holding onto the ball, Seely turned and passed it forward to Hershfield, who collected the ball in the box and then chipped it over South Carolina State goalkeeper Danielle Murphy for the game-winner. It was Hershfield's second goal of the season.
 
“Grace slipped it past the back four and Meryl got to the ball,” Gonzalez said. “Grace was being smart to keep possession. I really didn't think anything would come from it. Grace was being smart, not to turn the ball over, but she played a great ball over their defense.”
 
The Highlanders did a great job on defense, collecting their fourth clean sheet of the season. Freshman goalkeeper Samantha Bersett made eight saves in goal for the shutout.
“It was a good overall team effort,” Gonzalez said. “We didn't give them too many good chances.”
 
In the 35^th minute, SCSU had a good chance to score, when Kaitlynn Cortez broke past the NJIT defense and had a breakaway attempt. But Bersett came up big, coming out of the box to make a diving save on Cortez's shot from 18 yards out.
 
NJIT had a chance to get on the board in the opening stages of the second half. In the 54^th minute, NJIT sophomore midfielder Kylie Jones took a direct kick from 25 yards out, but her bending shot sailed wide left of the goal.
 
South Carolina State had a great chance in the 79th minute, but once again, Bersett came up big, stopping a shot from Cortez with a right-handed diving save.
 
Highlander sophomore defender Jenny Cislo had a chance in the final minute of regulation, but Murphy made the save.
The Highlanders had a great chance to score in the first overtime. In the 99^th minute, Gechi Ukaegbu ran down the ball and fired a shot with Murphy way out of position in goal. However, Ukaegbu's shot sailed wide right.
 
Needless to say, Gonzalez was elated with the win.
 
“It was a huge win,” Gonzalez said. “We didn't play our best, but we grinded it out. We took a big step going into the (Great West Conference) tournament. It's a big step for us and I'm very proud of the overall effort. There was a lot of teamwork.
 
Added Gonzalez, “I had a talk to the seniors before the game and told them that it was their last home game,  that they had to make it memorable. I guess this was pretty memorable.”

Write-up courtesy James Hague