NEWARK, NJ - After a controversial ending to their loss to STAC last Sunday, the NJIT Highlanders were looking to finally get their first win. They did just that by winning 3-1 over Rutgers ACDC Scarlett Knights at RWJ. The Highlanders now 1-5 overall in ACHA games and 1-1 in  home games.

Head Coach Dennis Sikorjak was suspended as a result of his conduct to the officials in the STAC game last weekend. Assistant Head Coach Adrian Wong served as the Acting Head Coach in the game. The Scarlet Knights broke the ice with nearly six minutes remaining in the 1st period. Senior Captain Defensemen Noah Bergen tied the game on a right circle shot on the power play a few minutes later. It was Bergen's second goal of the season with Joseph Altomare getting the lone helper.

It would remain that score after both the 1st and 2nd intermissions. It was a back and forth affair between both sides for most of the game. That would change in the 3rd period when NJIT got a power play opportunity early in the period. Sophomore Brandon Clayton would deflect Noah Bergen's right circle shot in front of the net to give the Highlanders their first lead. Senior Anton Martino would get a secondary assist on the goal. Rutgers ACDC pushed throughout the period to tie it, but Elliot Marken stood tall by making various high quality saves to preserve the lead. Freshman Joseph Altomare would put the game away with an empty net goal with 33 seconds left. Elliot Marken made 29 saves in his 1st win of the season.

Goals: Bergen, Clayton, Altomare
Assists: Altomare, Bergen (2), Martino 
Saves: Marken 29 saves
SOG: NJIT - 32                     Rutgers ACDC - 30
PP: NJIT - 2 for 4                 Rutgers ACDC - 0 for 6
PK: NJIT - 6 for 6                Rutgers ACDC - 2 for 4

NJIT will play two big Atlantic West Divisional games next weekend in a home-and-home set with the TCNJ Lions. They head to Lawrecnceville on Saturday night and then finish the set at RWJ at 5:30 next Sunday.