Nov. 7, 2007

Box Score

OREM, UT - Third-seeded NJIT blanked sixth-seeded South Carolina State, 4-0 in the first round of the United Soccer Conference women's soccer quarter finals Wednesday afternoon.

NJIT, which is 4-0-1 in its last five contests, advances to take on second-seeded Utah Valley, the host team, in the tournament semifinal at 1 pm (MST) on Friday. Utah Valley and top seed Longwood received first-round byes in the six-team field.

Freshman Kori Washington scored twice against South Carolina State, raising her season total to a team-leading five goals.

Washington opened the scoring when she fired home a loose ball in the box. Sophomore Emma Vinski assisted on the goal at 33:10.

At halftime, the Highlanders had a 12-1 advantage on shots and a 4-0 on corner kicks.

NJIT poured in three second-half goals starting at 54:30 off a cross from captains Briana Morales and Dena Baskous which was chipped in by senior Aine O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer's goal was her second of the season

In the 67th minute, the Highlanders set up for their fifth corner kick of the game which was taken by senior Erika Taugher. Taugher struck the ball into the box where Baskous headed the serve into the back of the net, recording her first goal of the season.

Taugher's assist was the 11th of her career, surpassing Jayna Misiunas and Karina Merchan with whom she had shared the old school record of 10.

The Highlanders closed out the scoring when Washington dribbled the ball into the box beating the Bulldog goalkeeper Alechia Brothers at 70:27.

NJIT freshman Sadie Mele, the reigning United Soccer Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, went the distance recording her third shutout of the year, stopping one shot. All three shutouts have come since October 26.

Brothers, the South Carolina State keeper, finished with 10 saves. Five days earlier in the USC regular season finale, she had made 19 saves to help her team escape with a 1-1 double overtime tie against the Highlanders at NJIT.

Looking ahead to Friday's tournament semifinal, NJIT will take on a Utah Valley team that handed the Highlanders a 5-0 defeat back on October 19 in the conference regular season meeting, also in Utah.