Box Score
SAN JOSE, CA – Four different players each scored a goal as the NJIT men's soccer team defeated San Jose State, 4-2, Sunday afternoon, enabling the Highlanders to set a new school record for victories in a season on the NCAA Division I level.
The program had won five games in a season twice since entering the Division I level in 2007.
The Highlanders (6-5) scored two goals in each half, scoring the most goals in a game this season.
“It's an unbelievable feeling,” said NJIT men's head soccer coach Cesar Markovic, commenting on the new school record for wins as a D-I program. “We had some good scoring combinations and played good soccer, so I'm very pleased with that.”
The Highlanders got on the scoreboard in the 19th minute, when freshman defender
Jimmy Myers, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against St. Peter's last Tuesday night, tallied the second goal of his collegiate career off a rebound of a shot from sophomore forward
Cristian Marcel.
Just two minutes later, Highlander sophomore defender
Marko Drljic scored a goal on a direct free kick from 22 yards out, pushing the lead to 2-0.
“It's always nice to go up early,” Markovic said. “I think our guys were loaded from the get-go. They wanted to win this game and were very focused and very determined. The guys were really working together. They played well the other night (in a 2-0 loss to Santa Clara) and I think they wanted to make sure they had something to bring home after the long trip (to California).”
San Jose State (3-4) then sliced the lead in half in the 43rd minute, when Garret Foster scored off an assist from Thomas Barnes.
“We did make a mistake at the end of the first half, allowing them to get back into it,” Markovic said.
But the Highlanders pushed the lead back to two goals, when senior defender
Christian Galindo made a brilliant move through three defenders and fired home a shot from 12 yards out in the 52nd minute. Galindo's goal was unassisted.
“We rallied and came back to score early in the second half,” Markovic said.
San Jose State sliced the lead to 3-2 in the 80th minute on a header from Steven Sanchez, but the Highlanders countered with the final goal of the match, when senior forward
Franco Gamero scored in the 89th minute, with the assist going to Galindo. It capped a brilliant victory for the Highlanders.
“It was a win-by-committee,” Markovic said. “Everyone pitched in and scored. That's the type of team we have and that's the type of team we have to have. We preach that. We tell them that it has to be everyone and want to make everyone get involved. We exhibited that today more than ever. It was a nice way to end the trip.”
Senior goalkeeper
Lars Maalen-Johansen made four saves in net for his sixth victory of the season.
Getting to the school record in wins so early in the season is especially pleasing for Markovic, considering he has such a young roster.
“It shows that we did a good job with our recruiting,” Markovic said. “These younger guys had a unique opportunity to come in and perform right away, build the foundation of what we want to do. It's not only that they have potential. They're doing a great job right now. It's a great feeling, but we want to maintain our humility. We know that it doesn't get easier from here. We still need to get better.”
The Highlanders return to action Wednesday in Washington, D.C. when they face George Washington University at 3 p.m.
Write up courtesy James Hague
