SPARTANBURG, SC—NJIT recorded its third ASUN Conference men's soccer win of the season on
Mamadou Guirassy's goal in the 40
th minute, lifting NJIT to a 1-0 road victory at USC Upstate Saturday.
The Highlanders (6-4-3, 3-1-0 ASUN) sit atop the ASUN soccer standings with nine points, with two conference matches remaining. The six team shutouts this season ranks tied for first in the NJIT Division I era (six shutouts accomplished in 2013).
Highlander goalkeeper
Victor Pujades earned his league-leading sixth shutout of the season, stopping four Spartan shots. The six shutouts for Pujades is a new NJIT Division I mark.
NJIT got on the board just before halftime, as senior
Rickardo Oldham played a ball over the top of the USC Upstate defense into the running path of
Mamadou Guirassy, who buried the shot in the right corner to give the visiting Highlanders a 1-0 lead. The goal for Guirassy is the fifth of the season, tying the junior with freshman
Rene White as the team leader.
Early in the second half, NJIT's White had an opportunity to score from eight yards out in the 52
nd minute, but USC Upstate goalkeeper Santiago Restrepo saved the point blank shot.
USC Upstate's (3-8-0, 1-3-0 ASUN) Restrepo made a left-handed diving save in the 58
th minute on a free kick by NJIT's Oldham, which was sent towards the upper 90.
The best chance for the Spartans to find an equalizer, came in the 80
th minute, when freshman Hamilton Gmah headed the ball off a cross from Rinaldi Alphonse, hitting the right post and bounced out to keep the Highlanders shutout intact.
USC Upstate's Restrepo recorded nine saves in the loss.
The Highlanders held a 15-13 advantage over the Spartans in shots with 11attempts coming in the second half. USC Upstate led 6-4 in shots during the first half.
NJIT will return to action on October 18 visiting Rutgers at 7pm in Piscataway, NJ.
