Regsan Watkins Scores Game-Winner in OT, NJIT Picks Up 3-2 Win at Binghamton
NJIT fifth-year Regsan Watkins scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute of overtime as the Highlanders picked up its first road win of the season with a 3-2 victory at Binghamton Saturday afternoon in America East Conference men's soccer action at Bearcats Sports Complex.
A minute thirty into the first overtime, Watkins put away the game-winner to give the Highlanders a 3-2 comeback win, keeping postseason hopes alive for NJIT.
The goal for Watkins is his fifth of the season and 40th career goal, which ranks second among active career Division I players. Watkins sits behind teammate Rene White who tops the career goal category with 46. Watkins' 96 career points sits third among Division I career leaders.
The turning point in the game, with under five minutes to go in the second half, after a foul committed by Binghamton set up a free kick for the Highlanders. Fifth-year Tomas Jorge served the ball into the box, finding freshman Matt Moran who headed home the game-tying goal in the 86th minute for a 2-2 score. The goal for Moran was his first of his young career.
NJIT, which snaps a four-game skid, moves back into the win column, picking up its first road victory of the season and improves to 4-10-1 overall, 2-4-0 in the America East.
The Highlanders outshot the Bearcats 14-to-12 (11-to-3 on shots on goal) led by co-captains Rene White with four shots followed by Watkins and Joao Costa who combined with three shots apiece. Junior keeper Samuel Reisgys posted the win, stopping just one Binghamton shot.
NJIT got on the board early on a goal off a free kick by senior captain Joao Costa in the fourth minute. The goal for Costa was his first of the season and his second of his career.\
At the half, NJIT held a slight edge in overall shots, 4-to-3 (3-0 in shots on goal).
Binghamton's Ethan Homler nearly tied the match at 1-1 in the 50th minute on a high strike, which missed to the left of the goal.
In the 66th minute, Costa had an opportunity to add to the Highlanders lead but his shot sailed high.
Binghamton knotted the match at 1-1 in the 67th minute on a serve into the box by Kosta Nika finding Anthony Lazaridis who headed home his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Lazaridis had another chance to put the Bearcats ahead but his shot went high.
Lazaridis tallied his second goal of the afternoon in the 75th minute on a pass slipped between the Highlander defense by Rory Anderson to put Binghamton on top 2-1.
A series of three opportunities for the Highlanders in the 80th minute came off the foot of Alejandro Rabell on a tough angle stopped by backup Binghamton keeper P.J. Parker. Costa settled the rebound inside the box and Parker again made the stop off the chip and the final shot of the series on a strike by Goncalo Franco grabbed by Parker.
NJIT will wrap up its home portion of the schedule on October 28, hosting UMBC at 7pm. In pregame ceremonies, NJIT will honor its graduating seniors -- Joao Costa, Tomas Jorge, Fabrizio Doria, Luc Smith, Gabriel Souza, Paul Kondratowicz, Gerald Cubero and J.J. Gaeir.