NEWARK, NJ—The NJIT women's soccer team will open ASUN Conference action welcoming, Lipscomb on Friday at 3pm on the campus of Kean University East Campus Facility.
All-Time Series
NJIT will look for its first all-time win over Lipscomb, as the Lady Bisons hold a 3-0 lead. Lipscomb won 1-0 in 2015 and 3-0 the last two consecutive years.
Construction Update on NJIT Campus
With construction underway on-campus for the new Soccer Stadium, the Highlanders home field will be in Hillside, NJ, on the campus of Kean University – East Campus Facility until construction of the soccer stadium is completed. Click
HERE for directions.
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.
NCAA Women's Soccer RPI Rankings
Following a 6-2-1 start to their 2018 season, the NJIT women's soccer team ranks in the top 110 following the first national RPI rankings. The 6-2-1 start is the best non-conference start for the Highlanders. Also representing the ASUN Conference is—FGCU (#44), Kennesaw State (#80), NJIT (#108), Lipscomb (#125) and North Florida (#148).
Last Time Out
NJIT's
Dunja Trajkovic scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute as the Highlanders defeated UMBC, 3-2, in overtime Sunday.
Sophomore
Jennifer Callaghan got the Highlanders on the board in the 23rd minute when she headed home senior
Arianna Gerber's corner kick into the back of the net.
NJIT pushed overtime with a goal in the 87th minute by
Tara Walenczyk.
Two minutes into overtime, junior Trajkovic converted Katrina Nguyen-Demary's corner kick giving the Highlanders the 3-2 win.
Reigning ASUN Conference Player of the Week
NJIT senior
Arianna Gerber has been selected ASUN Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Week the league office announced Monday.
Gerber collects her first ASUN Conference Player of the Week award and fourth all-time for NJIT, thanks to late heroic actions against Temple to start the final weekend of non-conference play.
In the 89th minute, Gerber broke the scoreless tie to propel her team to a 1-0 shutout victory over the Owls. Gerber then assisted on the opening goal of the next match vs. UMBC before her team went on to win 3-2 in overtime.
Scouting the Highlanders
After a season-opening loss to defending MAAC Regular season and tournament champions Monmouth, the Highlanders went 5-0-1 over the next six games. NJIT has posted five shutouts on the season and have one the last two contests, most recently an 3-2 overtime win at UMBC for the program's first all-time win.
Freshman
Fiona Wright leads the team with four goals and eight points while
Katrina Nguyen-DeMary paces the Highlanders with four assists. Wright's four goals ranks in the top 5 in the ASUN Conference. Callaghan's three goals and six points ranks second on the team. Nguyen-DeMary ranks tied for fourth in the league with four assists.
Amelia Sapirman has played every minute in goal for the Highlanders, allowing seven goals and boasting a .825 save percentage, which ranks third in the ASUN. The graduate student ranks second in GAA in the league, giving up 0.76 per game.
ASUN Conference Preseason Poll
NJIT, which saw the Highlanders set program records in 2017 for wins in a season (9), shutouts (7) and finishing above .500 (9-8 overall), was selected to finish eighth, tallying 20 points. The coaches predicted Lipscomb to finish in second place with 72 points.
Scouting the Lady Bisons
Lipscomb enters the first weekend of ASUN Conference play with a 5-3-2 overall mark, having most recently defeated SEC opponent Kentucky, 2-1.
Olivia Doak and Riley Henry paces the Lady Bisons in goals with (4). Doak leads the team in assists (4) and points (8). Lipscomb's Matcie McKay tallied four assists while Brooke Brenner totaled three.
In goal, Kate Mason has played every minute, combining for two shutouts, posting a 1.04 goals against average and a .788 save percentage. Mason's 1.04 goals against average ranks third in the ASUN Conference.
ASUN Conference Defensive Player of the Week
Goalkeeper Kate Mason has been named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
Mason, a redshirt senior, stopped 13 shots during two games over the week to earn the program's first Defensive Player of the Week honor in two years.
Next Up
NJIT will make its first ASUN Conference road trip of the season, visiting first-time opponent Liberty and the newest member to the league on Sunday at 1pm. The match will be streamed live on ESPN3.
