Arianna Gerber scored her first goal of the season for NJIT. (Photo courtesy of NJIT SID)

TEANECK, N.J. — Senior midfielder Arianna Gerber scored with 1:03 left in regulation to boost the NJIT women over Temple University, 1-0, at University Stadium on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University Friday night.

The match, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Kean University East Campus Facility, was changed to University Stadium due to unplayable field conditions at the Highlanders’ home field.

NJIT improved to 5-2-1, posting its fifth shutout of the season. Temple fell to 3-5-0.

Gerber tallied at 88:57 assisted by Christine Conaghy. Conaghy served the cross from the left side to Gerber at the top of the box, which hit of a Temple defender. The Highlanders senior corralled the ball, split two defenders, striking the game-winner with her left foot over the goalkeeper into the upper right corner.

“I’m proud of how we responded after last Sunday,” head coach Ally Nick said. “Tonight our team showed a lot of heart and determination. At halftime, our staff made some adjustments and the players implemented them very well which gave us the advantage in the second half.”

Gerber’s goal was her first of the season and eighth of her career while Conaghy registered her first assist of the season.

“Our attacking players stepped up in the second half, especially Arianna,” Nick said. “We need players to take the match into their own hands at times and that is what Ari did for us tonight and can do for us each night.”

Graduate student Amelia Sapirman collected her fifth shutout of the season in goal, making four saves on five shots.

NJIT will travel to UMBC on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.