NEWARK, NJ--NJIT Highlander defensemen Will Hoer netted a career-high 4 goals as NJIT came away with a huge 8-7 overtime victory over the Monmouth Hawks.  The win snapped a 5-game losing skid to the Hawks dating back to the 2014-2015 season.  The Highlanders now have a home record of 4-4.

Hoer started the scoring six minutes into the 1^st period, with a blast from the point, for an early 1-0 lead.  Monmouth would respond nearly two minutes later to tie the game and it would stay 1-1 for the rest of the period.  In contrast to the opening period, the game opened up in the second period, as goals came in bunches for both teams.  Phil Lelikov, off a brilliant feed from James Lyle, extended his scoring streak to 3 games with a shorthanded goal, to regain the lead at 2-1.  However, the Hawks would surge ahead with two straight goals to grab a 3-2 lead.  Not to be outdone, the Highlanders scored two straight as well to reclaim the lead.  First up was Will Hoer's second goal of the night, an unassisted wrister over the goalies shoulder from a sharp angle, that was set up by Paul Roth's forechecking pressure.  Next was Adrian Wong's first of the season on a quick snap-shot from just inside the blue line.  But once again, Monmouth responded.  This time on a shorthanded goal with less than 30 seconds left in the period to even the score at 4-4.

The 3^rd period yielded 6 total goals just as the teams continued the back-and-forth pace set in the previous period. The intensity increased as did the frenetic pace of the game as the period wore on.  James Lyle on another shot from the point, scored on a power play just 56 seconds into the period and for the fourth time the Highlanders had a one-goal lead.  Midway through the period Joe Dickinson gave NJIT a 2-goal advantage on a tremendous individual effort.  After Joe stripped the puck from a defender at the top of the circle he cut in from right to left along the goal line, faked a shot to the top right and then pulled the puck around the sprawling goaltender to tuck in a backhander and the score now read 6-4.  The Hawks would respond less than two minutes later on the power play to cut their deficit down to one.  Will Hoer recorded his hattrick, on yet another shot from the point, less than two and a half minutes later to reclaim a 2-goal cushion.  This one was set up by a cycle from Lelikov down the left side to Crincoli who took it behind the net and fed Michael Barrera who, in turn, fed Hoer at the point.  However, Monmouth would not go away quietly as they quickly countered with their second power play goal of the period to set the stage for an exciting finish.

With their netminder pulled, the Hawks tied the game with 1:27 left in the 3^rd period.  Monmouth nearly won the game with seconds left, but lucky for NJIT the shot opportunity was huge miss and sigh of relief.  Monmouth's overtime record going in was 0-2-1 while NJIT was playing their very 1^st overtime game of the season.  But, overtime ended very quickly as Will Hoer converted a 2-on-1 opportunity on a pass from Matthew Lepinski 41 seconds into the period.

Martin Paro made 29 saves for his second straight win in back-to-back starts.  The Highlanders will play Rutgers tonight in Piscataway, NJ.  The next home game will be the final game of the fall semester as they will play a non-conference game vs. the Stockton University Ospreys.
 
Goals:
Hoer (4), Lelikov, Wong, Lyle, Dickinson

Assists:
Lyle, Crincoli (4), Barrera, Lepinski

Saves:
Paro 29

SOG:
NJIT: 53                 Monmouth: 36

PP:
Monmouth: 2/9     NJIT: 1/4