Oct. 7, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA--The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team held off a NJIT comeback in a 2-1 win Tuesday night at Finnesey Field. Nick Pozzessere (three points) scored what would be the game winning goal in the 63rd minute, while Bryan Benedict made nine saves in net.
A seemingly innocent throw in by Giacomo DiLisi to Tom Smart led to Pozzessere's goal at 62:21. Smart received DiLisi's throw, crossing it into the goal area where Pozzessere sent a strong header to the crossbar. The ball hit hard off the bar and across the line to give SJU a 2-0 lead at the time.
The Pozzessere goal came just eight minutes after a corner kick by Pozzessere which found the head of Colin Baker, whose shot was cleared off the line by a NJIT defender in the 54th minute.
Baker provided the early goal for SJU after withstanding an initial Highlanders' rush to start the game. Baker's goal came off a corner by Pozzessere in the 28th minute after Michael McInaw missed a header. Baker received the ball at the top of the box and one-timed it to the lower right corner.
Saint Joseph's (3-2-1) controlled the middle of the game after NJIT (1-9-1) opened with five of the game's first six shots while Benedict made four of his nine saves in that span. Baker's goal started a period of 35 minutes in which the Hawks put 10 shots towards NJIT's net, scoring two goals.
NJIT pulled back a goal when Erik Magnusson fed Chico Lugo who sent a laser to the upper left hand corner past Benedict with just 8:57 remaining. After that, Chris Fawzy sent a header just wide with three and a half minutes to go.
The Hawks held the edge in corner kicks, 6-2; fouls 12-9; and saves, 9-5. NJIT held a slim 16-15 margin in shots. Both teams picked up a yellow card, one for SJU's Rocco Pozzessere and one for NJIT's Gustav Warfving.
SJU will return to play on Friday when they travel to western New York for their Atlantic 10 opener against St. Bonaventure. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 p.m.
NJIT 1-9-1 (0-1-0 ASC) vs. Saint Joseph's 3-2-1 (0-0-0 A10)
Date: Oct 07, 2008
Attendance: 171
Weather: 55 degrees and clear
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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NJIT................ 0 1 - 1
Saint Joseph's...... 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 27:21 SJU Baker, Colin (2) (Pozzessere, Nick) - Shot from top of box off corner from 9
2. 62:21 SJU Pozzessere, Nick (1) (Smart, Tom; DiLisi, Giacomo) - Header off kick from 15 off throw in from 13
3. 81:03 NJIT LUGO, Chico (1) (MAGNUSSON, Erik) - Shot to upper left corner off pass from 17
Shots: NJIT 16, Saint Joseph's 15
Saves: NJIT 5 (SUTHERLAND, Ryan 4; TEAM 1), Saint Joseph's 9
(Benedict, Bryan 9)
