Box Score NEWARK, NJ—Freshman
Shaun Keegan's goal in the 76th minute was the difference for NJIT in its 1-0 men's soccer win over visiting Marist Saturday evening on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
Playing in front of a home opener crowd of 1,120, NJIT raised its season record to 2-2, while the visiting Red Foxes (2-1) lost for the first time after opening the season with a pair of 1-0 wins, home vs. Villanova and away at Binghamton.
Keegan, who wrapped his first college goal and first game-winner into one, netted the game's only goal on a quick counter attack. Running onto a long through ball out of the back from teammate
Victor Kausch, the freshman burst free at the 35-yard line and surged toward Marist's goalie, Mark Rajovic 1-v-1. Keegan's first shot from 10 yards was deflected back out by the keeper right to Keegan, who tapped the rebound home at 75:47.
The game was evenly played throughout, as reflected on the stat sheet. NJIT had a 13-10 lead in overall shots, including five on target for the Highlanders to three for the Red Foxes. The corner kicks were even at two apiece.
NJIT needed two goalkeepers to complete the clean sheet. Starter
Christian Foust made some terrific stops, but had to leave with 4:42 remaining when he was shaken up diving near one of the goal posts with Marist applying heavy pressure in a bid for the equalizer. He finished with three saves and his sub,
Max Bradhe, did not have a save after coming on.
Marist's freshman keeper Rajovic was credit with four saves, all in the second half.
Marist, playing long air passes out of the midfield, got some dangerous looking chances off the long balls in the first half, but most of them broke down in the attacking third.
NJIT, meanwhile, played more methodically, with more short, diagonal passes and moves with the ball.
Through 45 minutes, Marist held a 6-4 edge in total shots, with the Red Foxes putting two shots on target. On the other end, Marist's Rajovic was not asked to make a save.
Marist's MJ Stellwag took a dangerous shot in the ninth minute. Stellwag beat a defender and carried to within 20 yards, taking a hard, low shot that NJIT's Foust played on a bounce. The try was struck so hard that it caromed off Foust's chest and squirted loose, forcing the keeper to dive and flop to cover the rebound.
Later, Highlander
Danny Cordeiro made a slick move with the ball, beating a defender in the box, but Cordeiro's 15-yard try from straight on went just wide at the right post in the 30th minute.
Stellwag nearly rang the bell in the 41st minute on a free kick from 19 yards away. The shot made it through the NJIT wall, but Foust made a diving stop and covered as he was swarmed by attackers looking for a rebound.
NJIT had the first good chance of the second half after
Marko Drljic was brought down just outside the penalty area. Taking the direct free kick, Drljic shot wide left in the 57th minute.
With the game headed to its final quarter-hour, Marist's Brandon Curtis found himself open for a quick shot five yards from the right post, but he missed wide right in the 74th minute. NJIT's Keegan struck with the game-winner less than a minute later.
The Highlanders, who began a five-match home stand with the Marist contest, have a week off before hosting Fordham on September 13 in a 4 pm start on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
