Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC—NJIT freshman Carly Berdan's scoring fortunes have changed in a big way and she and the Highlanders are cashing in. On Sunday afternoon, she scored her second game-winning goal in three games, striking 17 seconds from the end of regulation in a 1-0 women's soccer win for NJIT at Howard.
 
Berdan, who netted 17 goals in 2012 as a senior at Passaic Valley High School, went 14 games without a point to begin her NJIT career. However, she found her touch at her new level on October 19 at South Carolina State, notching the only score in a 1-0 win for the Highlanders. The timing of her first goal was less dramatic, however, as she found the back of the net in the 36th minute at SC State, compared to the 90th at Howard.
 
Berdan's two game-winning goals have been part of run that has seen the Highlanders win three of their last four and four of their last six, moving to 7-10 on the season.
 
The seven wins match the program's high for victories at the Division I level, first done in 2009, when NJIT finished 7-9-2.
 
Now, the overall program record of eight wins is in sight with two games left on the schedule. NJIT women's soccer began in 1996, playing one year in NCAA Division III. The Highlanders moved to Division II, where they played from 1997 to 2005, going a program-best 8-6-2 in 2005, the last DII season.
 
Howard, 6-7-1 after Sunday's defeat, had won four in a row before falling to the Highlanders. The Lady Bison had allowed just one goal in their four-game winning streak and just 15 goals total in the preceding 13 games.
 
Berdan, who scored unassisted, joined Abi Fakolujo in putting two shots on frame, as the Highlanders and Bison each registered five shots on goal, while NJIT had a 14-6 lead in overall shots. Five different Lady Bison players had one on-frame shot apiece.
 
NJIT sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Bersett made 5 saves for her fifth clean sheet of the season. Three of the shutouts have come in the recent 4-2 run of the last 6 games. Howard junior Kyra Dickinson also faced 5 shots on goal and she made 4 saves.
 
Berdan's game-winning goal came 45 seconds after Bersett saved a try by Howard senior Owyn Manson at 88:58
 
The Highlanders will play the final two 2013 matches at home, with the first one coming Friday at 7 pm with a rematch vs. Howard on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. NJIT will conduct Senior Night ceremonies before Friday night's game. The last game is November 6 at 7 pm vs. Delaware State.