Zalot Leads Record Performance By Women's Soccer In 7-0 Rout Of Saint Peter's

Published: Sunday, August 20, 2023

The NJIT women's soccer team put together a record-setting performance in its first victory of the season, a 7-0 shutout of the Saint Peter's Peacocks Sunday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. 

The seven goals scored matched the program's single-game record, set seven years ago in head coach Ally Nick's fourth-ever game leading the Highlanders on August 29, 2016. The offensive charge was led by senior Gabby Zalot, who finished with two goals and two assists to set the NJIT Division I record for points in a game (6) after never scoring a collegiate goal in 34 previous games between NJIT and Valparaiso.

Sophomore Mikayla Balio also had a career day, logging her first-ever goal and assist for a career-best three points. The Highlanders also got goals from fifth-year Madison Taibl, sophomore Aleesha Deshmukh, and freshmen Merle Hueser and Taty Schivel.

Goalkeepers Samantha Constantine and Mojisola Ayodele once again split time in net and produced a second straight combined shutout, with Ayodele notching another save and the NJIT defense keeping Constantine from facing a shot on goal for a second consecutive game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Hueser put the first goal of the season on the board (8') and opened her own NJIT account on a set piece header at the left side far post. Zalot took a free kick from the right side of the box and perfectly placed it to Hueser, who was left unmarked.
  • Zalot scored her goal about a minute later (9') when Balio played a cross from the same right side - just before the ball went out for a goal kick - to the front of goal and right to Zalot's foot off of one bounce.
  • Zalot once again delivered a perfectly placed ball (16'), this time on a corner kick that hit Taibl as she flashed to the top of the six-yard box to tap home the third goal of the game.
  • NJIT wouldn't score again until the 51st minute, when Balio sent a ball into the box that floated over the Saint Peter's goalkeeper and into the net. Initially thought to have been hit into goal by a Peacocks player, video review showed that the ball bounced off the bottom frame of the goal after crossing the line.
  • Zalot would strike again minutes later (53') after intercepting a poor SPU pass in the Peacocks' defensive third, cutting inside, and beating the keeper with her right foot at the top of the 18-yard box.
  • Deshmukh scored her first goal of the year (64') within the box after heading a loose ball and slotting home the resulting rebound after it bounced off two other players.
  • Schivel made it a lucky seven for the Highlanders shortly after on a similar play to Deshmukh. A service ball from Hueser bounced off multiple players at the top of the 18-yard box and Schivel one-touched it home inside the left near post.


OTHER NOTES

  • Zalot's record-setting performance bested the previous NJIT D-I mark of five points, last set by teammate Bailey Chant on September 4, 2021 at home against Saint Peter's and first done by alumna Kori Washington on October 24, 2007 against Howard.
  • NJIT's record against Saint Peter's all-time improves to 13-2-1, including 12 wins in a row, six straight shutouts, and a +28 differential (28-0) across those six shutouts.
  • The 7-0 victory marked the most goals scored by NJIT since September 4, 2021, when the Highlanders defeated the same Saint Peter's team by a 6-0 margin at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
  • For the third time in the last five seasons, the Highlanders have gone unbeaten after their first two games. In the 2020 campaign (played in Spring 2021), NJIT defeated Drexel and Wagner at home in its first two. Last year, a home opening 4-0 win over LIU and a draw against Big East foe St. John's kept NJIT without a loss to start the season.
  • Along with freshmen Hueser and Schive (2 games), Taibl also netted her first career goal, albeit in a little bit longer time (44 career games).
  • Deshmukh's goal was her first since scoring as a freshman against Saint Peter's in that 2021 contest.
  • NJIT's +17 differential on total shots (23-6) since the Highlanders offense went +24 (31-7) against Delaware State at home on October 7, 2022.
  • The last NJIT player with two assists in a game was Highlander alumna Siani Magruder in the 2021 Saint Peter's matchup.
  • That 2021 Saint Peter's game was also the last time five NJIT players scored in one game (Chant, Deshmukh, Briana Ramirez, and recent grads Christine Conaghy and Tara Walenczyk).
  • The 2022 Delaware State game was also the last time NJIT assisted on three goals in a game as a team.


NEXT UP
NJIT hits the road for the first time later in the week when the team heads out West for the first of two games in California against California Baptist (Aug. 24 at 10 p.m. Eastern)