| Game 9 |
vs Stetson (2-6-1) |
| Date | Time |
Thursday, September 26, 2019 | 2:00 pm |
| Location | Arena |
Newark, N.J. | Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium |
| All-Time Series |
Stetson leads 3-1 |
| Live Stats |
In-Game Statistics |
| Live Video |
Highlander Sports Network |
NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT Women's Soccer's quest to return to the ASUN Conference Tournament will officially begin on Thursday afternoon when the Highlanders (3-3-2) welcome the Stetson Hatters on Newark in the ASUN opener for both teams.
LAST TIME OUT
The Highlanders' four-game unbeaten streak came to an end on September 20 after NJIT conceded a 2-0 result to the Columbia Lions at Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. Columbia opened the scoring in the 18th minute after turning the Highlanders over in their defensive half and netting a chip shot goal from the left corner. NJIT fell into a 2-0 hole 13 minutes later as Columbia turned a service ball sent from midfield to the front of the box into a score. In defeat, Molly Saylor set a new career high by stopping nine shots. She previously made seven saves on two occasions this season (vs Rider on Sept. 5 and at Maryland on August 25).
Fiona Wright led the way for the Highlanders with three shots taken.
LOOKING TO REPLICATE SUCCESS
NJIT will be looking to improve on its historic 2018 run through ASUN Conference play. The Highlanders ended conference action last year as the No. 2 team in the league with a 5-2-1 mark and hosted an ASUN Tournament game in its first-ever appearance.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
The Highlanders currently rank first in the ASUN Conference in goals against average (.797; 47th in NCAA) and save percentage (.857; 25th in NCAA) while Molly Saylor is pacing the league in GAA (.619; 35th in NCAA) and save percentage (.897; 18th in NCAA).
SAYLOR EARNS FIRST ASUN HONOR
For her efforts in the first two games of the season, Saylor earned the ASUN Conference's first Defensive Player of the Week award of the season. Saylor ended last weekend with a 0.43 goals against average, a .909 save percentage, one shutout and ten saves in 207:09 of playing time against UMBC at home and Maryland on the road.
ALL-TIME SERIES
NJIT and Stetson have met four times in their history, with the Hatters holding a 3-1 edge in the all-time series. The two teams have split their last two games - NJIT won at home in 2017 (1-0; October 8) while Stetson took last year's contest in Florida (4-2; October 7).
SCOUTING STETSON
Stetson is 2-6-1 on the season and enters Thursday's matchup after falling in their last game against Illinois State, 3-2. The Hatters have scored at least one goal in two-thirds of their games (6) and two or more in over half (5). Stetson is led by Maggie Struble (6 goals), Kate Carter (4 G, 2 A), and Lara Bates (3.42 GAA, .652 save percentage, 43 saves).
NEW ERA FOR NJIT ATHLETICS
Women's Soccer's opener against UMBC was the first regular season game played on NJIT's new field, which was completed this summer. It also marked the first on-campus contest for the Highlanders' three outdoor teams - women's soccer, men's soccer, and men's lacrosse - since November 7, 2015.
For more information on the project, please visit this link: http://bit.ly/30jV1hA.
2019 OUTLOOK
NJIT will have 19 returners and seven newcomers on the roster as the Highlanders look to follow up on a historic 2018 campaign that saw the team set a program record for wins (11) and finish as the regular season runner-up in the ASUN Conference.
The Highlanders will be led by 2018 ASUN Coach of the Year Ally Nick, ASUN Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference selection Fiona Wright (11 goals in 2018), and Second Team All-ASUN honoree Nicole Loehle (2 goals; started 17 games for ASUN's 4th-ranked defense at 1.17 goals allowed per game).
NEXT UP
NJIT will hit the road for its next ASUN contest, a trip to North Alabama on Sunday, September 29 at 1 p.m.
