Post Game Interview

NEWARK, NJ—Rhode Island combined a goal in each half with shutout defense and the visiting Rams came away with a 2-0 non-conference men's soccer victory over NJIT Wednesday night on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
 
Rhode Island (4-2) broke into the scoring column on an unassisted goal by sophomore Ryan Bailey, his second tally of the season, in the 22nd minute. The 1-0 lead held until less than three minutes remained, when the Rams removed all doubt on a counter attack goal by Dante Lamb, with assists from Dominik Richter and Nick Ferguson. It was the team-leading third goal of the season for Rhode Island's Lamb, a sophomore.
 
NJIT (2-3) had ample scoring chances in the match and outshot the visitors, 12-7, but the Highlanders could not get the ball behind URI's sophomore goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm, a product of the youth academy of Schalke 04, one of the top clubs in the German Bundesliga.
 
Leifhelm finished Wednesday's contest with four saves, while his NJIT counterpart, Christian Foust finished with two saves.
 
In addition to their lead in shots, the Highlanders also took five corner kicks to one for Rhode Island.
 
Bailey's goal, which would be all Rhode Island needed, as it turned out, started when Lamb sent a crossing pass that Foust, the Highlander keeper, punched away from the goal. Bailey controlled the ball and scored from left of the penalty spot at 21:58.
 
With NJIT sending players forward in a bid for the equalizer, Rhode Island mounted some strong counter attacks. With about five minutes left, Foust had to make a diving stop on a Ram breakaway, but he was finally beaten on a well-executed play that Lamb finished at the 87:42 mark.
 
Richter carried the ball into the box from the upper left corner of the goal area and sent a centering pass to Ferguson, who played it on a quick touch to his right, where Lamb was alone for a 15-yarder inside the near post.
 
Wednesday loss snapped a 12-match unbeaten streak in home matches for the Highlanders, who dropped a home contest for the first time since October 5, 2013, when they were also blanked 2-0, on by St. Francis Brooklyn on that day almost two years ago,
 
NJIT won its two remaining 2013 home games and then went through the 2014 season undefeated (six wins, three ties) at home. The Highlanders won their 2015 home opener last week to extend the streak to 12 games without a defeat on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
 
They will attempt to start a new streak on Sunday at 3 pm, when they host Manhattan.