Saturday, February 28
Newark, NJ
11:30 AM
Sacred Heart
5-0
14
at
12
New Jersey Institute of Technology
2-4
1
2
3
4
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
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.
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.
Team Stats
SACRED H
NJIT
Shots
53
37
Turnovers
16
14
Caused Turnovers
9
11
Faceoffs Won
19
9
Extra-Man Opps
3
2
Ground Balls
34
20
Game Leaders
G
3
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
SSDM
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's LacrosseA
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
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