ONEONTA, NY—NJIT men's soccer absorbed its first Sun Belt Conference defeat in a 1-0 road loss Saturday afternoon at Hartwick.
 
The only goal of the day came at 17:17 on the first marker of the year for Hartwick junior defender Jack Miller, with junior goalkeeper Tom Buckner getting credit for the assist.
 
In his primary assignment—preventing goals, Buckner notched his third shutout overall and second in Sun Belt Conference play for the Hawks (2-7-4; 1-1-1 Sun Belt). Buckner, a native of Oxford, England, was credited with 3 saves en route to the clean sheet. In addition, six shots were blocked by the Hartwick defense and there was one "team" save for the Hawks.
 
NJIT (6-4-4; 1-1 Sun Belt) got 5 saves from goalkeeper Christian Foust, plus two "team" saves.
 
The total shots favored the visiting Highlanders, 17-12, including 13-6 in the second half as they sought the equalizer in vain.
 
Miller's goal in the 18th minute came after his keeper, Buckner, sent a long punt ahead, which Miller controlled after a bounce in the box and then finished.
 
A week ago, NJIT won its Sun Belt Conference opener at home, defeating Georgia State 2-1 on a golden goal early in overtime.
 
Hartwick tied Appalachian State (0-0) and lost to Georgia Southern (2-0) in previous Sun Belt action for the Hawks.
 
Although the match was the first between NJIT and Hartwick as members of the Sun Belt Conference, Saturday's game was the ninth all-time between the schools in men's soccer and the Hawks are now 8-0-1 against the Highlanders, including 4-0-1 since NJIT started competing at the Division I level in 2004.
 
NJIT, which is 5-0-3 at home, but 1-4-1 on the road, will play three of the four remaining regular season games away from home, beginning with the final 2014 non-conference game, a trip to UMass Lowell for a matchup Wednesday at 7 pm.
 
Last year, when NJIT was playing as a Division I Independent, the Highlanders defeated UMass Lowell of the America East Conference, 2-0, in Newark.