Rene White's Golden Goal in Overtime Lifts NJIT to Victory at VCU

After a scoreless 90 minutes of action, redshirt junior Rene White put away the game-winner in the 96th minute to give visiting NJIT its first-ever win over VCU in non-conference men's soccer action at Sports Backers Stadium.

NJIT (2-0-1) remains undefeated through the first three matches of the season for the fourth consecutive year.  VCU, who captured the Atlantic 10 regular season title a season ago, drops its second straight match, falling to 1-2 on the young season.

The Highlanders opened the 2019 campaign with a 7-0 victory at Sacred Heart, the most goals scored since the 2013 season, when the Highlanders scored six against Howard.  NJIT played to a 2-2 double overtime draw in the home opener for the Highlanders on Labor Day against Fordham, the first game at home for NJIT since 2015.

White, NJIT's leading goal scorer, has netted four goals through three matches this season and stands at 21 career goals.

The 6-foot forward from Bloomfield scored the game-winner at the 95:58 mark, after receiving a cross from the left side of the field from teammate Thomas Radon and heading home the winner for a 1-0 overtime victory.

"We played against a strong opponent under tough road conditions, such we had to change tactically at halftime," head coach Fernando Barboto commented.  "We defended the width of the field better and attacked more vertically.  We told the team that we would get two chances in overtime to score.  Thomas (Radon) combined with Rene (White) on the first chance we got and secured the win."

The Rams earned a penalty in the 46th minute of action when Martin Ngoh drew a foul inside the box but it was NJIT's freshman keeper Samuel Reisgys who denied the shot to keep the match scoreless.

In the 60th minute, NJIT had a breakaway, slipping behind the Ram defense and catching VCU goalkeeper Mario Sequeira off his line but Sequeira came up with a big save on a blast by NJIT's Gerald Cubero.

With just under two minutes in regulation, VCU's Ngoh nearly netted the go-ahead goal, collecting a loose ball inside the box, turning and blasting a shot that rattled off the cross bar.

Three different Highlanders -- White, Radon and Cubero -- each recorded a pair of shots in the win.  The Rams held a 19-9 advantage in shots and edged the Highlanders in corner kicks, 5-2.

Reisgys stopped five Rams shots Sunday, one-shy of his career-best six saves against Fordham Sept. 2.

NJIT will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Drexel at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.