Post Game Interview w/ head coach Fernando Barboto
NEWARK, NJ–Junior Alvaro Heredia scored the equalizer in the 80th minute and was credited with an assist in NJIT's 2-2 draw at home against visiting Delaware in non-conference men's soccer action Tuesday evening at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
NJIT snaps a two-match skid, moving to 3-5-2 overall, 2-1-2 at home while Delaware now stands at 5-3-2 overall.
From Coach Fernando Barboto
"At halftime we addressed a couple of tactile things that we needed to adjust defensively. I thought we started the half well and gave up a PK on a unintentional handball which hurt our spirit a little bit. It took us five minutes to recover from that. But once we got over that hump, we pressed and showed a lot of resilience to get those two goals."
Delaware held a 1-0 lead after the first 45 minutes and went ahead 2-0 in the 53rd minute. NJIT battled back and scored a pair of goals in a span of eight minutes late in the second half to earn the 2-2 home draw.
Senior Asembo Augo scored in the 72nd minute while Heredia scored the equalizer in the 80th minute of action to tie the game at 2-2.
Junior transfer Devin Armstrong was strong in goal tonight, recording five saves.
How It Happened
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Delaware's Marius Stenner tallied the first goal of the match in the 13th minute on a loose ball in front to give the Blue Hens a 1-0 lead.
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In the 21st minute, Devin Armstrong made two remarkable saves to keep the score within one. Armstrong made a diving save on the first shot by Stenner and then got up and pulled down the second shot from Stenner.
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NJIT with two scoring opportunities in the 27th minute off a free kick right-footed blast by Sokol Ymeraj which hit the left post and a rebounded chip by Matt Moran went wide.
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The Highlanders held a 7-4 overall shots after the first 45 minutes paced by Ymeraj and Alvaro Heredia with a pair of shots.
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The visiting Blue Hens went ahead 2-0 in the 53rd minute on a penalty shot by Sam Donnellan in a penalty kick.
NJIT got on the board in the 72nd minute on a header by Asembo Augo served in the box by Giovanni Massacesi and Alvaro Heredia for a 2-1 score.
- Heredia scored the equalizer in the 80th minute on a blast from the top of the key after the ball was headed out by a Delaware defender after a serve into the box as Heredia knotted the match at 2-2.
Noteworthy
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Heredia registered a multi-point day with a goal and an assist. The goal and the assist was the second of the season for Heredia.
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Augo scored his third goal of the season.
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The assist for Massacesi was his third in a Highlander uniform.
Next Up
NJIT will wrap up its three game home stand on Saturday at 7pm welcoming Binghamton. The match will be produced on ESPN+.
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