Box Score
 
NEWARK, NJ– In their last match of their career, senior defender Christian Galindo scored on a penalty kick and senior goalkeeper Lars Maalen-Johansen made three saves, leading the NJIT men's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Howard in the season finale at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium Saturday night.
 
The win enabled the Highlanders to finish the season with a 10-9 record, the school's best mark as an NCAA Division I program. Howard finished its season with a 3-15-1 record.
 
“The standard in college soccer is having 10 wins is a good season,” NJIT head coach Cesar Markovic said. “We had a winning record on the Division I level and that's significant. I really feel like it's an accomplishment.”
 
Sophomore forward Cristian Marcel had a goal and an assist for the Highlanders.
 
Freshman midfielder Joshua Mercer capped the scoring with his third goal of the season in the 89^th minute.
 
The Highlanders got the best of the early action, with Marcel leading the way.
In the very first minute, Marcel had a great opportunity dead on goal, but his shot was deflected over the crossbar.
 
In the fourth minute, Marcel took a right-footed shot from 20 yards out that just rolled wide left.
 
But the Highlanders broke through in the 11^th minute, when senior forward Franco Gamero sent a beautiful cross to Marcel, who knocked it home for his third goal of the season and a 1-0 NJIT lead.
 
“However, our MO lately has been scoring early and then giving it up,” Markovic said. “But tonight, we stayed on top of things. Scoring early like that took a little of the pressure off.”
 
Howard had two great chances in a span of a minute, both of which were turned away by Maalen-Johansen.
 
In the 26^th minute, Mario Martin had a breakaway down the left flank and fired a shot that Maalen-Johansen stopped with a dive and a sprawl. Less than a minute later, Martin had another shot that Maalen-Johansen stopped.
 
The Highlanders pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 36^th minute, when sophomore forward Jason Chippy was taken down by Howard goalkeeper Eric Hamilton in the 36^th minute, leading to a penalty kick. Galindo calmly nailed the PK for his third goal of the season.
 
“I think Galindo has been such an important piece to building this program,” Markovic said. “He came over as a transfer (from Stony Brook) and brought this attitude, this swagger with him. The other players respect his toughness.”
 
Howard had another chance to score in the 43^rd minute, but Frederick Todd III's direct free kick sailed high over the crossbar.
 
The game remained 2-0 at the break.
 
NJIT had to excellent chances to extend the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Freshman forward Jason Gonzalez's header was snared in the air by Hamilton in the 57^th minute and Chippy's left-footed shot in the 59^th minute was stopped by Hamilton.
 
Two minutes later, the Highlanders were on the attack again, with Gamero getting a shot from in front of the goal that Hamilton caught.
 
In the 71^st minute, Highlander midfielder Joshua Mercer pulled Martin down in the box, calling for a penalty kick. Martin slid the ball past Maalen-Johansen for his fourth goal of the season, slicing the lead in half.
 
“Lars has been such a great presence in goal for us,” Markovic said. “He gave us stability in goal for two years. I wish I had him for four.”
 
Three minutes later, Highlander freshman midfielder Matthew Praino fired a rocket, but Hamilton made a diving save, keeping the score at 2-1. Hamilton had a fine game in goal for the Bison, collecting seven saves.
 
In the 86^th minute, Mercer unleashed a shot from just outside the box, but Hamilton made a leaping stop, pushing the ball over the bar with his right hand.
 
In the 89^th minute, Mercer got on the board when he scored off a mad scramble in front. Marcel took the first shot, but it clanked off the post. Mercer collected the ball and knocked it home for the final goal of the season.
 
“It was a good win, a solid win, a good way to end the season,” Markovic said.
 
“We had some moments tonight where we played some really smart soccer. We were able to expose their weaknesses and get some goals.”
 
Write-up courtesy James Hague