Junior forward Asembo Augo scored a pair of goals and the Highlanders recorded its first shutout of the season with a 4-0 home victory over visiting Sacred Heart Saturday evening at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
NJIT, which won its second straight match of the season, improves to 3-2-2 overall and remains undefeated at home, standing at 3-0-1. Sacred Heart moves to 3-4-0 overall on the season.
VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Fernando Barboto
The Highlanders had three different goal scorers in the win: Joseph Davis (28:36), Asembo Augo (44:55; 72:23) and Hugo Tavares (76:55). Four different Highlanders were credited with an assist: Enrique Mutsoli, Jordi Navio Sanchez, Hugo Tavares and Maximus Barboto.
From the Coach
"I thought we started the match well," said eighth-year head coach Fernando Barboto. "We were up 2-0 at halftime (and we were up 2-0 against La Salle) and we addressed that at halftime. We needed to come out with the right mindset and I thought we did that in the second half. Sacred Heart pushed us a little bit and after we scored the third goal, I thought it kind of sunk them. It was a good way to not make the same mistake we made against La Salle."
How it Happened
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NJIT struck first in the 29th minute on a low cross across the box by Enrique Mutsoli who received a chip pass from Jordi Navio Sanches. Joseph Davis tucked away the shot to the far post to take a 1-0 lead.
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With one second to play in the first period, NJIT doubled its lead as Asembo Augo who stayed on-side fired a right-footed shot past the Sacred Heart keeper. After a Pioneer goal kick, Hugo Tavares headed down the ball and placed the ball in the middle of the field, finding Augo, who put the Highlanders ahead, 2-0.
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NJIT made it 3-0 as Maximus Barboto ran down a touch towards the corner, serving the ball with his left foot into the box, finding Augo who turned and scored off the Pioneer keeper in the 75th minute.
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The Highlanders tallied its fourth goal two minutes later on a shot by Tavares which went off the Pioneer keeper and the crossbar and in the goal to give NJIT a 4-0 advantage. Barboto was credited with the assist.
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NJIT held a huge advantage in overall shots – 11-2 paced by Augo with four and Sergio Cubel Martinez with three.
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Starter Samuel Reisgys made one save in goal and teammate Caden Pellito finished the final 15 minutes in goal to record the clean sheet.
Top Performers
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The goal for Davis was his first of the season and second of his young career.
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Mutsoli from nearby Lyndhurst, NJ, tallied his second assist of the season.
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Augo, who didn't play the last two matches due to injury, combined for a multi-goal game.
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The assist for Tavares was his first of the season and the goal is a team-leading fourth on the team.
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Navio Sanchez recorded his second assist of the season.
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Barboto who leads the nation in assists (8), tallied two in the Highlanders win Saturday night. The eight assists in a single season ties the NJIT Division I record and his 12 career assists ranks fifth all-time in the NJIT Division I era.
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Pellito, a senior from Califon, NJ, appeared in his first match of the season (fifth of his career)
Next Up
NJIT will continue its five match homestand on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. when the Highlanders host Iona.
