Sacred Heart Extends Win Streak to Five with 14-12 Victory at NJIT

Saturday, February 28

Newark, NJ

11:30 AM

Sacred Heart

5-0

New Jersey Institute of Technology

2-4

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Sacred Heart	3	5	5	1	14
NJIT	4	5	1	2	12

Sacred Heart Extends Win Streak to Five with 14-12 Victory at NJIT

2/28/2026 1:51:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. — The Sacred Heart University men's lacrosse team extended its winning streak to five games with a 14-12 road victory over NJIT on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Pepe led the Pioneers with five points on four goals and one assist, while seven different players recorded multi-point performances in the win.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 5-0
NJIT: 2-3

Stat Leaders:
Matt Pepe: 4 goals, 1 assist
Jake Carney: 3 goals, 1 assist
Dom Basti: 3 goals, 1 assist
John Murray: 1 goal, 2 assists
Will Moulton: 2 goals
Tommy Bull: 2 assists
Michael Moreschi: 2 assists
Ryan Grove: 16-21 face offs, 8 ground balls
Craig Daria: 11 saves

How it happened:
It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the afternoon. NJIT jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter, but Jake Carney and Matt Pepe responded with back-to-back goals to even the score at 2-2. The Highlanders answered just 16 seconds later to regain the lead, 3-2. Will Moulton netted his first of the day to tie the game once more, but NJIT added another goal to take a 4-3 edge into the second quarter.

John Murray scored just 34 seconds into the second to knot the game at 4-4. NJIT responded with two straight goals to build a 6-4 advantage. Moulton's second goal cut the deficit to one, though the Highlanders pushed it back to two shortly after. Dom Basti and Carney then scored in succession to tie the contest at 8-8. NJIT capitalized in the closing seconds of the half to take a 9-8 lead into the break.

Pepe opened the second-half scoring with his second goal of the game to tie it at 9-9. NJIT answered once more to reclaim the lead, but it would be its final advantage of the day. Basti sparked a pivotal 4-0 Pioneer run with back-to-back goals. Pepe completed his hat trick during the stretch, and Jack Balzi added his first goal of the season as Sacred Heart surged ahead 13-10 entering the fourth quarter.

Pepe struck again early in the fourth, converting a man-up opportunity to extend the lead to 14-10. NJIT ended the Pios run with two straight goals of their own to pull within 14-12 at the 10:21 mark, but neither team found the net the rest of the way as Sacred Heart held on for its fifth consecutive victory.

Ryan Grove (16-of-21) and Hunter Molway (3-of-7) split faceoff duties, with Grove collecting a team-high eight ground balls.

Senior goalkeeper Craig Daria recorded 11 saves, including two in the final 1:15, to secure his fifth win of the season.

Up Next:
Sacred Heart returns to action Saturday, March 7, hosting Merrimack at noon on Campus Field to open Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.