LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Rider took the lead 100 seconds into its game Wednesday against NJIT and the Broncs' defense limited the visiting Highlanders to just two shots on goal all night en route to a 2-0 non-conference men's soccer victory.
 
With the victory, Rider owns a 5-2 won-lost record as it completes the non-conference portion of its schedule.  NJIT is 2-4-1.
 
The Broncs goals came from Justin Veltri in the second minute, with insurance added in the 70th minute by junior Christian Flath.. Veltri, coincidentally, scored against NJIT when the teams played a 3-3 tie last September 24 in Newark.
 
Junior goalkeeper David Pastuna started for Rider and went the distance for his first solo shutout of the season (he also played the first 75 minutes in a 4-0 win vs. Saint Joseph's back on August 31).
 
NJIT finished with six shots total, three by senior Joshua Mercer, who put one try on target. The other Highlander shot on goal came from freshman Patrick Nuss.
 
Marco Luna, a junior transfer who made his first appearance for NJIT in the previous game, took his first start in goal for the Highlanders and made one save in 90 minutes against Rider.
 
Rider's opening goal came in the wake of a shot that hit the post. Rider's Jose Aguinga sent a pass to Elliott Otmani, whose shot hit the post. Veltri then corralled the rebound and put it in the net just 1:40 after the start of play.
 
Flath's insurance goal, his fourth of the season, came on a 25-yard direct free kick that swerved around NJIT's defensive wall and on into the net with just more than 20 minutes left on the game clock.
 
The situation ahead doesn't figure to get easier for the Highlanders, who will visit Fordham on Saturday at 7 pm in the Bronx. Fordham captured the 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference championship and played in last year's NCAA Division I College Cup tournament.
 
The Rams also played Wednesday night, defeating Columbia, ranked #21 nationally, by a 1-0 score. NJIT and Fordham played to a 1-1 tie when they met last season in Newark.