VIDEO: Postgame Interview with Coach Barboto and Samuel Reisgys
VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. Sacred Heart
Photo Gallery
NEWARK, NJ–NJIT scored a pair of goals in the second half and Samuel Reisgys registered the clean sheet as the Highlanders blanked visiting Sacred Heart, 2-0, Tuesday evening in the Highlanders first home match of the season at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon.
With the win, NJIT moves to .500 (3-3-2), after picking up a 2-2 tie against Rider on Sunday and a 2-0 win over Sacred Heart, heading into America East Conference play this weekend.
QUOTE FROM COACH BARBOTO
"Our two center midfielders (Hugo Tavares & Goncalo Franco) pushed forward, got in the box and finished two plays inside the penalty area. It was great to see two center midfielders get forward that far up the field. We wanted to defend collectively better and we did so today. We battled and won a lot of headers today and that is going to be important, heading into America East Conference play."
HOW IT HAPPENED
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Sacred Heart nearly scored in the opening minutes, on a rocket by Luca Miquel Castrillo, which sailed wide left.
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In the 22nd minute, NJIT had an opportunity off a corner kick from Sergio Martinez Cubel finding Matt Moran inside the box who headed the ball just over the near post.
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The Highlanders turned up the pressure to start the second half. Sophomore Justin Aguirre-Rosas' blast from 20 yards hit the top of the woodwork.
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NJIT tallied the first goal of the match in the 58th minute on a goal by Hugo Tavares assisted by Maximus Barboto and Jordi Navio Sanchez. Barboto served the ball up the right side of the field to Navio Sanchez who crossed the ball inside the box to Tavares for the first goal of the match.
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Three minutes later, NJIT added an insurance goal on a cross by Martinez Cubel to co-captain Goncalo Franco, who stayed with the play to give the Highlanders a 2-0 advantage.
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Another good chance for NJIT came in the 76th minute, on a long range shot by freshman Enrique Mutsoli which went high.
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Sacred Heart had a dangerous scoring opportunity in the 80th minute by Batuhan Dikman which was saved by a diving Reisgys.
NOTEWORTHY
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Tavares from Porto, Portugal scored his first collegiate goal of his young career.
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Franco, the Highlanders co-captain, also from Portugal (Libson) recorded his season-leading third goal of the season
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Barboto, who entered Tuesday's match tied for first in the America East, tallied his fourth assist of the season.
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Navio Sanchez picked up his second straight match with an assist (credited with an assist at Rider on September 18).
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Reisgys, who finished the match with four saves, became NJIT's Division I career saves leader with 210.
