SMITHFIELD, R.I. — It wasn't easy, but NJIT Women's Soccer handled its business.

With its America East playoff hopes in danger after the first ten minutes, the Highlanders produced a rally for the ages in its 3-2 regular season finale victory over the Bryant Bulldogs Thursday evening at Beirne Stadium.

AMERICA EAST PLAYOFFS
With NJIT's win and UMBC's 5-0 loss to Binghamton after the Highlanders' game, NJIT officially clinched the No. 6 seed in the America East playoffs, beginning Sunday, October 30.

For seventh-year head coach Ally Nick, the fourth postseason appearance of her tenure also marks the first time since 2018 & 2019 (ASUN) that NJIT has reached the conference tournament in consecutive seasons.

THE RUNDOWN

• NJIT (5-7-6, 2-4-2 AE) entered Thursday's matchup with Bryant (3-10-4, 0-5-3 AE) needing to register a result - win or a draw - to have a chance to advance to next week's America East playoffs. 
• However, Bryant - playing in their first season in the league and facing NJIT for the first time in over a decade - took advantage of their newcomer status and shocked the Highlanders with a pair of quick goals. 
• Bryant's Jordyn Collins scored the game's first goal at the 2:01 mark and assisted on the Bulldogs' second by Emma Pedolzky to put the Highlanders in a 2-0 hole after just 9:02 of game time.
• NJIT absorbed the Bryant 1-2 punch and adjusted its on-ball pressure with the goal of cutting the deficit in half by halftime. The Highlanders succeeded in the 38th minute as a trio of newcomers helped NJIT get on the board. Freshman Maria Nogueira crossed a ball into the box from the right side that eventually found its way onto the head of redshirt junior transfer Lily Bray and then finally the head of freshman Briana Andreoli for her second goal of the season. 
• NJIT would pull even with Bryant in the 65th minute as junior Emma Bitar's service into the box took a fortuitous bounce and rolled by Bryant goalkeeper Kathryn McNeil. The score was Bitar's second of her career, with both coming in back-to-back regular season road finales with NJIT chasing a playoff spot.
• A draw, coupled with a UMBC loss in their later matchup against Binghamton, would have been enough for the Highlanders to clinch a spot in the postseason field, but NJIT would complete the rally and secure the victory with one more goal.
• In the 83rd minute, Highlander scoring leader and senior Bailey Chant gave NJIT an indirect assist by corralling a free ball from grad Siani Magruder in the box and drawing a foul that gave NJIT a penalty shot.
• Magruder stepped up to the spot and easily netted her second career goal and first since September 8, 2019 at Iona.
• Bryant would take three more shots in the contests but none of them forced Highlander sophomore goalkeeper Sam Constantine to add to her two saves on the night.

OTHER NOTES

• Thursday's win was the first time since October 8, 2010 that NJIT has rallied from at least a two-goal deficit to win a game. In that road matchup against Delaware State, NJIT scored first, conceded three straight Hornet goals to go into halftime down 3-1, and responded with three of their own to earn a 4-3 victory.
• Like 2021, NJIT closed out this regular season with an unbeaten streak. The Highlanders won back-to-back games for the first time and avoided defeat in three straight to close 2022 after winning three straight and going unbeaten in its final four in 2021.
• Both of Andreoli's goals this year have been on headers, set up by her significant leaping ability.

NEXT UP
The No. 6 seed Highlanders will hit the road to face the No. 3 seed Maine Black Bears in the America East Quarterfinals on Sunday, October 30 at 5 p.m.