​NEWARK, NJ - Sal Micciche scored his 2nd career hat-trick as the NJIT Highlander rallied from two 2-goal deficits to beat the Seton Hall Pirates 7-4 in their 25-26 home opener.

The win snaps a five-game losing streak to the Pirates and gives the Highlanders a record of 1-0 in ACHA play.

Seton Hall scored the only goal in the 1st period and had the lead after the opening stanza.

The 2nd period is when the game opened up for both teams as a total of 7 goals were scored in the period.The Pirates extended their lead to 2-0 nearly five minutes into the period. Newcomer Anton Martino scored his 1st goal as a Highlander to cut the deficit to 1. Grad Sal Micciche tied the game with a shorthanded goal almost two minutes later.

Unfortunately, Seton Hall got two power play goals as a result of a 2-man advantage in a 30 second span to regain their two goal cushion at 4-2. But, NJIT showed resilience once again by tying the game at 4-4 with two goals in 2:49.

Freshmen forwards Brandon Clayton and Emory Marshall both scored their 1st goals as Highlanders in a key spot as the teams were tied after two periods.

The 3rd period is where the Highlanders took control of the game as they scored all three goals in the 20 minute portion of the game. Brian Szastak scored on a dump-in attempt that surprised the Pirate net minder and went into the net with nearly seven minutes gone by.

Micciche put the game away with a late goal with 2:25 remaining and an empty netter with a minute left. Noah Gibb with his best performance of his career making 34 saves.

Goals: Martino, Micciche (3), Clayton, Marshall, Szastak
Assists: Szastak, Martino(2) , Clayton, Bergen, Marshall, Pinkham 
Saves: Gibb 34 saves
SOG: Seton Hall - 38 | NJIT - 21
PP: Seton Hall - 2/2 | NJIT - 0/1
PK: Seton Hall - 1/1 | NJIT - 0/2

NJIT's next game will be at RWJ against the three-time reigning MCHC Champions, the Sacred Heart Pioneers on October 5 at 5:30 pm.