Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – The Sacred Heart men's soccer team was shut out for the second straight game Wednesday night, falling 1-0 at Lubetkin Field.
Sacred Heart (0-9-1) had the first shot on goal in the match Wednesday night, as Mahmoud Kafel (Fairfield, Conn.) put a shot right at NJIT goalkeeper Christian Foust in the 15th minute. Seconds later, Julian Linke headed wide an Ezra Siyadhuba (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) corner kick. The Highlanders had their first shot on goal at the half-hour mark when Nikola Gogic headed a corner right at Tucker Hackett (Madison, Conn.). NJIT held the Pioneers without a shot for the final 29 minutes of the first half, while taking three more shots. Hackett made two saves to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
NJIT (5-2-3) controlled play early in the second half, at one point taking five straight shots in the span of 10 minutes. Hackett stopped one shot as the others were wide of goal. In the 69th minute, the Highlanders got on the scoreboard. Cristian Marcel fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box right into the back of the net, giving NJIT a 1-0 lead. Siyadhuba attempted to tie the game in the 71st minute but his shot sailed over the goal. Jamal Vinson (Teaneck, N.J.) also had a shot go high in the 80th minute. That would be Sacred Heart's last shot of the game, as a resolute NJIT defense made their goal hold up for the 1-0 win.
The Highlanders outshot the Pioneers 14-5, putting six shots on goal while holding Sacred Heart to one.
Sacred Heart now prepares for Northeast Conference play, which begins on Friday, October 10 at 4:30 p.m. as the Pioneers host reigning NEC champions St. Francis Brooklyn at Campus Field.
