Women's Soccer Shuts Out UAlbany In Senior Day Overtime Battle

The Highlanders are still alive.

In a Senior Day home finale with major America East tournament implications, the NJIT women's soccer team earned a hard fought 1-0 overtime victory over the UAlbany Great Danes Sunday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

Fifth-year Christine Conaghy scored the game-winning goal in the 96th minute off an assist from sophomore transfer Gabby Zalot to move the Highlanders' record to 6-10-1 overall and 4-3-1 in America East play.

After a difficult first year in the league during the 2020 campaign, NJIT controls its destiny heading into Thursday's regular season finale at Hartford (10/28, 5 p.m.): a win or a tie secures a berth in the six-team tournament beginning Sunday, October 31 and would put the Highlanders in their conference tournament for the first time since reaching the ASUN Tournament in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019.

Sunday's contest was arguably the most physical of the season for the Highlanders - NJIT and UAlbany (4-7-4, 3-3-2 AE) combined for 28 total fouls, the most in an NJIT match this season. The Highlanders also drew their red card on an opponent this year. A battle for possession in the 27th minute between Conaghy and UAlbany leading scorer Jasmine Colbert led to a yellow card for Conaghy, a red card for Colbert, and a woman-up advantage for the Highlanders for the remainder of the contest.

Despite the personnel edge, the Great Danes outshot the Highlanders 4-0 the rest of the half en route to a 11-5 advantage at intermission. While redshirt junior Molly Saylor made all five of her saves in the first half, two pinpoint chances for UAlbany were sent away in a total team effort.

In the 32nd minute, a Great Dane corner kick led to back-to-back header shots from Jada Colbert that junior Bailey Chant (right post) and fifth-year Jennifer Callaghan (left post) headed away from off the goal line and out of harm's way.

In the second half, the Highlanders started to wear down the Great Danes with their player advantage and came close to taking the lead on a number of occasions. NJIT outshot UAlbany 9-4 in the second period and forced Great Dane goalkeeper Cassandra Coster to match Saylor's five saves.

The most exciting - and stressful - moments of the second half came within minutes of each other. In the 59th minute, a shot by Zalot from about 20 yards out was on line for a goal but was knocked away by a diving Coster. Less than a minute and half later in the 60th minute, Colbert took what proved to be UAlbany's closest chance at a goal but the shot hit the right post and bounced away from the goal line and directly to Saylor.

As regulation turned into overtime, the Highlanders leaned in on their experience from tough games and close calls this season and took over the match. Senior Siani Magruder kicked off what would be a 4-0 overtime shot advantage with a near score off a free kick in the 91st minute. Conaghy and Zalot's first chance at a golden goal came in the 94th minute after the first of three straight corner kicks as a left sided pass from Zalot was nearly one-touched in by Conaghy but was saved by Coster. Fifth-year Tara Walenczyk recorded a header shot off the third corner kick but it was also saved by Coster.

The second chance Conaghy and Zalot would have to connect proved to be the difference maker. After a defensive stop keyed by junior Madison Taibl, the Highlanders executed their transition to perfection, ending with Zalot finding Conaghy with a perfectly placed through ball and Conaghy scoring from just inside the 18-yard box to the upper left.

OTHER NOTES

--After scoring two goals in her first four seasons, Conaghy recorded her team-leading fourth goal this year and her third game-winner of the season. Her game-winners have come in the first half (at New Hampshire, Oct. 17), the second half (vs Maine, Sept. 26) and in overtime tonight.

--Conaghy is the first Highlander to record three game-winners in a season since former Highlander Fiona Wright accomplished the feat in 2019.

--With three straight shutouts (tied at UMBC, wins at New Hampshire, vs UAlbany), NJIT has matched its longest shutout streak ever at three games from 2018.

--Zalot's assist was her first-ever collegiate point.

--NJIT's five seniors (Shane Penney, Whitney Roth, Angela Harris, Molly Saylor, Siani Magruder) and four fifth-years (Jennifer Callaghan, Christine Conaghy, Yasmeen Malik, Tara Walenczyk) were honored before Sunday's match.

NEXT UP
NJIT will close out the regular season and fight for an America East playoff spot on the road at Hartford Thursday, Oct. 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.