NJIT will host ASUN Conference opponent Kennesaw State on Saturday at Kean University East Campus Facility. Kickoff is slated for 12pm.
Highlander Sports Network
The match can be seen live on the Highlander Sports Network.
A simple way to find Highlanders Sports Network is on NJIT's official athletics website, http://www.njithighlanders.com. Near the middle of the home page, click Upcoming Events for a list of scheduled NJIT contests. After finding the event, click the camera icon to the left next to the live stats icon in the red box. That brings you to the Highlander Sports Network portal where you can access the desired program.
ASUN Conference Tournament
NJIT clinched its first-ever ASUN Championship berth thanks to a pair of victories by Lipscomb and North Alabama Friday night. NJIT can secure a first-round bye if the Highlanders are able to win out, and begin that quest by hosting Kennesaw State in a battle of teams at the top of the standings Saturday afternoon.
The 2018 ASUN Women's Soccer Tournament is played at campus sites. Six teams qualify, with the higher-seeded team hosting. When the field is reduced to four, those teams all play at the home field of the highest-seeded team remaining in the competition, with the champion advancing to the 2018 NCAA Women's College Cup.
The tournament begins on October 26 with the semifinals and finals scheduled for October 28 and November 3.
Last Time Out
Stetson registered its first ASUN Conference win of the season defeating the Highlanders 4-2 last weekend.
In the second half the Highlanders made their comeback scoring a goal in the 63
rd minute by
Tara Walenczyk off a pass from Ariana Gerber.
Fiona Wright converted a penalty kick in the 71
st minute to bring NJIT within one 3-2.
Scouting the Highlanders
In the win over FGCU last week, the Highlanders set programs records for – most single-season wins (10), most career goalkeeper shutouts by an individual goalkeeper (
Amelia Sapirman) with 12 and while ranking tied for first for most career goalkeeper wins with 17.
Freshman
Fiona Wright, the NJIT single-season goal leader with nine goals and 18 points, has scored a goal in five of the Highlanders last 10 matches. Wright ranks second in the ASUN in goals (8) and fourth in points (16). Her nine goals on the season, ranks tied for second among all Division I freshmen.
Tara Walenczyk's four goals ranks second on the team while
Arianna Gerber's team-leading six assists ranks fifth in the league. Her 15 career assists ranks Gerber tied with
Erika Taugher in the all-time records.
Sapirman has played every minute in goal for the Highlanders, allowing 16 goals and boasting a .815 save percentage, which ranks third in the ASUN. The graduate student ranks fourth in GAA in the league, giving up 1.12 per game.
Scouting the Owls
Kennesaw State clinched a spot in the ASUN Conference Tournament with a 1-0 victory over FGCU last weekend. Sophomore Abi Hunt's first career goal was a big one as it proved to be the decisive score as the Owls defeated defending ASUN Conference Champion FGCU.
Hunt won ASUN Player of the Week for her game-winning goal vs. FGCU, the Owls first win over the Eagles since 2007.
The Owls enter Saturday with 12 wins on the season, its highest win total since posting an 17-4-0 record in 2007.
Kennesaw State is 5-1 in ASUN Conference play for the first time since 2007 when they began league play 7-0 before finishing 10-1-0.
Sophomore goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao ranks second in Division I with nine shutouts this season. She has 16 career clean sheets in under two seasons.
Kennesaw State can clinch a first-round bye in the ASUN Championship with a win vs. NJIT and Liberty and North Alabama both losing.
Next Up
NJIT will close out the regular season on October 21 (Senior Day) hosting North Alabama at 1pm. The Highlanders will honor seven graduating seniors in pregame ceremonies --
Kiara Goode,
Melanie Zrno,
Nicole Baldassini,
Brooke McGee,
Neema Liverpool,
Noelle Batista and
Arianna Gerber.
