Niagara Highlights/Post Game

NEWARK, NJ—Senior Joshua Mercer's second goal of the night, a header in 93rd minute, clinched a thrilling comeback win, 3-2, in extra time for NJIT, which trailed visiting Niagara 2-0 with less than 16 minutes remaining in regulation Friday.
 
The Highlanders (2-2) trailed their opening home game most of the night, conceding a goal in the third minute and Niagara (0-5) later scored in the 55th minute to take what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 lead.
 
Mercer, who had scored a combined 10 goals in his first three seasons for the Highlanders, had not scored through this season's first three contests. That changed in the 75th minute Friday, when he scored from 10 yards away and in front after receiving a pass from Rickardo Oldham, who passed from outside the box.
 
NJIT continued to apply pressure and a strong header from Mamadou Guirassy went just over the crossbar in the 79th minute.
 
In fact, NJIT did not get the equalizer until 33 seconds from time, when Oldham blasted a 25-yard free kick from straight on into the upper left corner. The kick was awarded after Mercer was knocked to the turf on a foul by a Niagara defender.
 
Oldham very nearly ended the contest in the 92nd minute, but his hard open shot to the far post hit off the frame and play continued, but not for long.
 
Mercer took a shot that deflected off a defender to Niagara goalkeeper Joel Gerberich, but Gerberich had trouble handling the ball and Mercer was there to head in the loose ball for the game-winner at 92:52.
NJIT had a 16-5 advantage in total shots, including 2-0 in overtime. The shots-on-goal favored the Highlanders 5-3 and the corner kicks were 5-1, NJIT.
 
Gerberich, Niagara's sophomore goalkeeper, finished with two saves, while Christian Foust of the Highlanders was not credited with the save. The only save for NJIT was a "team save" credited after freshman Ryan Moore blocked a shot at the goal line for the Highlanders.
 
Niagara went on top early, taking advantage of a misplay by the Highlander defense in front of its own goal. Ryan Myers got the takeaway for the Purple Eagles and flicked the ball to freshman Koby Sapon-Amoah, who finished for his first college goal at 2:04.
 
The goal would be Niagara's only shot of the first half, with NJIT taking eight shots in the first 45 minutes.
 
The 1-0 advantage held and the visitors took advantage of another momentary defensive lapse to produce their second goal at 54:04. Niagara's Alex Dimitriu shot three times in a flurry in the goal area. His first shot was the save by the NJIT defender Moore, a second shot was blocked, as well, and then on the third try, Dimitriu knocked in another rebound to give NU its 2-0 lead.
 
Niagara has had some hard luck in its 0-5 start. The extra time loss at NJIT was immediately preceded by 2-1 extra time defeat last Sunday at Michigan of the Big Ten Conference. And the Purple Eagles opened their schedule with a 1-0 loss to Robert Morris.
 
NJIT has won its last two after beginning the season 0-2. The Highlanders will host Rhode Island on Wednesday at 7 pm.