Box Score LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Michelle Iacono's goal with 2:15 remaining in the second 10-minute overtime period gave Rider a 2-1 win over visiting NJIT in women's soccer action late Sunday afternoon.
It was the second game-winning overtime goal this year for the sophomore Iacono, who was the only scorer in a 1-0 victory for the Broncs over Bucknell on August 31.
Iacono and Ellie Smith, who was credited with an assist on Sunday's overtime game-winner, worked a two-player game to produce the golden goal. Iacono sent a pass to Smith, the freshman from England, and Smith played it back to Iacono, who finished in the 108th minute.
The final result left Rider's season record at 5-2, while the Highlanders are 2-7--five of the losses coming by margins of one goal.
NJIT is now 0-2 in overtime games (previously lost in OT at Charleston Southern), while Rider is now 2-1 in overtime games, having previously lost to Fairleigh Dickinson to go with the Iacono-fueled OT wins over the Highlanders and Bucknell.
Junior Tara Ballay opened the scoring for Rider with her team-leading sixth goal of the season, assisted Priscilla Santos and Iacono in the 16th minute.
The 1-0 lead stood until NJIT senior
Rebecca Tustin's goal in the 73rd minute, with an assist going to sophomore
Dana Schules. It was the first goal of the season for Tustin and the team-leading third assist for Schules.
Tustin's goal was the only shot of the second half by the Highlanders, who were outshot in regulation, 25-4. Rider continued to pile up shots in overtime, holding an 8-0 lead in attempts in the first overtime and 3-1, including the game-winner, in the second overtime. In all, it was 26-5, Rider, in total shots, including 18-3 in shots on goal.
Rider's Ballay, who was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2012, hit the goal post twice in a span of 14 seconds in the second minute Sunday before finding the back of the net a few minutes later.
Bethany-May Howard who went the distance in goal for the Broncs, made two saves and allowed the one goal in nearly 108 minutes.
NJIT used two goalkeepers.
Samantha Bersett started and played the whole first half, making three saves and allowing one goal.
Karen David took over to begin the second half and finished with 13 saves and one goal allowed 62 minutes, 45 seconds of work.
Rider now leads against NJIT, 4-2, in an all-time series that includes one game each year since 2009.
The Highlanders next visit Iona in New Rochelle, NY, on Friday, September 19, in a 4 pm start.
Like Rider, Iona is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Once the Iona game is in the books, the Highlanders will have played six of the MAAC's 11 women's soccer teams. So far NJIT is 2-3 against MAAC foes, having beaten Canisius and Saint Peter's and lost to defending champ Monmouth, Manhattan, and Rider.
