PROVIDENCE, RI --- NJIT men's soccer's historic season ended in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament at Providence, 2-0, Thursday evening at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium.
The Friars (15-6) scored a goal in each half, advancing to the second round at No. 15 Penn State on Sunday.
"I'd like to thank Providence for hosting us," fourth-year head coach Fernando Barboto commented post game. "I thought they did a great job and treated us with professionalism. Even though we're away from home they made us feel at home."
The Highlanders (10-5-4) were led by junior ASUN second-team honoree Thomas Radon, who paced the Highlanders with five shots followed by a pair of shots from ASUN second-team selectee Joao Costa.
Costa recorded NJIT's best opportunity of the match, a shot in the 82nd minute, which hit off the outside of the left post.
Freshman Samuel Reisgys, the 2019 ASUN Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, registered seven saves on the night, which ties his personal-best mark (seven saves vs. FGCU (11/16); at Radford (9/14).
"I think we had a great season," Barboto added. "We walk away with a regular season championship trophy and an ASUN playoff championship trophy. I think football is about winning trophies and we won two. We're very happy [about that]. There's only one team that ends the season without losing and that's the [champion] of the NCAA Tournament. Everyone else goes home with a loss and we did today. I'm so happy and proud of our seniors, who were fantastic. They were our heroes, they were our leaders, and we will miss them dearly."
NJIT concludes the 2019 season with numerous accomplishments:
--First NCAA appearance at the Division I level
--2019 ASUN Tournament and Regular Season Champions
--Tied the school-record for wins (10)
--Four major ASUN Conference Awards -- Coach of the Year (Fernando Barboto), Player of the Year (Rene White), Goalkeeper of the Year (Samuel Reisgys) and Rookie of the Year (Alejandro Rabell)
--Rene White closes out the season: NJIT Division I career goals (34) and points leader (74); NJIT D1 single season leader in goals (17); ranks tied for first in the nation in goals
--Andrew Nino - ASUN first-team concludes season as NJIT Division I assists leader (17)
Inside the Boxscore
Goal | Trevor Davock (PC) | 9:16; Assist: Christopher Roman
Goal | Esben Wolfe (PC) | 64:36; Assist: Danny Griffin and
Overall Shots: Providence 17, NJIT 11
How It Happened
An early opportunity for NJIT in the third minute, a 30-yard free kick taken by senior Andrew Nino, who served the ball inside the box but Providence keeper Austin Aviza punched away the ball.
Providence's David Smith got behind the NJIT backline in the seventh minute, which sailed over the crossbar.
The Friars went up 1-0 in the 10th minute on a goal by Trevor Dovak on a side volley blast which was chipped inside the box from Christopher Roman.
Reisgys denied the Friars in the 14th minute on a left-handed save on a shot by Dovak.
Four minutes later, a blast from Providence's Danny Griffin hit off the left post and in the 23rd minute Esben Wolfe's shot was saved by NJIT's Reisgys, skimming off the crossbar.
A close opportunity for the Highlanders in the 32nd, on a counter attack as Thomas Radon crossed the ball into the middle of the box but Providence's Aviza made a diving save with Rene White, the 2019 ASUN Player of the Year, in the vicinity.
A late scoring chance for NJIT at the end of the first half came off a blast from Radon, sailing just wide in the 44th minute.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Friars were denied of a goal on an offside call in the 53rd minute and in the 61minute, Wolfe, just missed the far post by six inches.
The Friars, continued to pressure the Highlanders, and went ahead 2-0 three minutes later (65th minute) by Wolfe off the inside of the post.
The first shot on goal by the Highlanders was blast off the foot of Radon in the 68th minute saved by a diving Aviza.
