NEWARK, N.J. - Adisa Craig scored four minutes into the second overtime to lift host New Jersey Institute of Technology to a hard fought 2-1 win over Army in a non-conference men's soccer match on Lubetkin Field at J. Malcolm Simon Stadium Saturday evening.
The win leveled the Highlanders' record to 1-1-0 while the Black Knights slipped to 0-2-0.
Army forward Brennan Randel's first collegiate goal knotted the score 1-1 when he scored in front of the net off double assists from Tanner Robertson and Sean Kim in the 72nd minute when the Black Knights were a man down. Randel came up short of snapping the tie just two minutes later when goalkeeper John Rickette deflected his shot and it hit off the post. The Black Knights trailed 1-0 after the Highlanders got off to a quick start on Nils Warving's goal just 31 seconds into the game.
Following the Black Knights' equalizer, the two teams held each other in check over the remaining 18 minutes in regulation and into the second overtime before Craig tallied the game winner off a rebound in the 104th minute when Army played the final 20 minutes down two players due to red cards.
The Black Knights outshot the Highlanders 9-3 in the first period, but NJIT led 12-6 in the second period and took all 10 shots in the overtime for a final 25-15 advantage along with holding an 8-3 margin in corner kicks.
In goal, Army sophomore keeper Michael Fiuk finished with 10 saves including four in the second period, while Rickette recorded four.
Army, in the middle of a four-game road slate, heads to Pittsburgh, Pa., next week to participate in the Duquesne Invitational. The Black Knights take on Pittsburgh in their opening game on Friday (Sept. 10) and the host Dukes (Sept. 12) on Sunday in closing out their early season road slate.
