The third time was a charm for NJIT, as sophomore Adisa Craig knocked home his team’s third shot in a flurry in front of the net for the deciding goal in the 105th minute of the Highlanders’ 2-1 overtime defeat of visiting Army Saturday night on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium.
It was the first win for the Highlanders in the six-game all-time series between the schools. The teams have played each season since 2005.
NJIT had scored first, getting on the board just 31 seconds into the contest on the second goal of the season for freshman Nils Warfving, assisted by sophomore Pete Walker.
Army drew even at 71:58 with Brennan Randel scoring on assists from Tanner Robertson and Sean Kim.
Craig’s game-winning goal for NJIT was unassisted.
John Ricketti, NJIT’s freshman goalkeeper, was credited with four saves in notching his first college win. Army’s Michal Fiuk made 10 saves.
The total shots favored the Highlanders, 25-15, including a 12-5 edge in shots on goal. NJIT outshot the visitors, 10-0, in overtime, as the Highlanders played 11-on-9 for the entire overtime and the final 5:55 of regulation.
Army’s Mitch Johnson was red-carded in the 48th minute after an altercation in front of the NJIT goal and Ernest Whitaker was sent off in the 85th minute after a hard foul.
Craig, who had come on as a substitute for the Highlanders late in the first overtime period, had attempted just one previous shot in his career, but his second career try was golden, as he scored from close range on a rebound.
The Highlanders got three quick shots following a corner kick, capped by Craig’s game-winner at 104:03. Jack McVey took the corner and #Chico Lugo, who was dangerous all night, took the first shot, that was blocked. Rahim Stennett# tried to score on the rebound, but his shot, too, was blocked, and Craig finished the play and the game seconds later.
NJIT had taken a 1-0 lead on the first attack of the game for either team, with freshman Nils Warfving, finishing at the right post off of a crossing pass from sophomore Pete Walker.
Army, already down one man, earned the tying goal, applying steady pressure for a good 20 minutes before finally scoring.
Cameron Jarvis had a header hit the post for the Black Knights in the 65th minute, but Randel got the equalizer on a well-constructed attack, with quick passes from Robertson and Kim earning assists in the 72nd minute.
Reminiscent of its first goal, NJIT was dangerous on its first foray after Army had tied. Stennett, the top scorer for the Highlanders in 2009 (6 goals, 13 points), was open at the left post, but his header sailed across the goalmouth and missed the target wide right just 18 seconds after the Army goal.
The action continued apace and Army had a near-miss when Randel’s bid for a second goal was deflected by NJIT’s Ricketti and clanked off the post in the 74th minute.
Chico Lugo of the Highlanders nearly ended it 7:15 into the first overtime, but his header was saved by Army’s Fiuk, allowing play to continue nearly seven more minutes before Craig’s game-winner.
“It was very intense,” said NJIT coach Pedro Lopes. “Army is a high pressure team and they did a good job moving the ball. I thought our guys did a good job keeping their composure when Army was pressuring for the tying goal, but they (Army) never give up. The thing we could have done better was playing the ball faster so that we could have done more with the (11-on-10 and 11-on-9) advantage.
“The tying goal had the odd effect of taking off some of the (Army) pressure, because once they got it, they put a fourth man on defense and that gave us more room in the rest of the field.”
Next up for the Highlanders is an away game against Albany on Wednesday at 4 pm in upstate New York.