NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT Men's Lacrosse will play its first-ever game in the city of Newark on Saturday, February 16 when the Highlanders host the University of Delaware Blue Hens at Alumni Field on the campus of Rutgers University - Newark. Delaware leads the all-time series 0-1.
LAST TIME OUT
The Highlanders played a second straight game in the Lehigh Valley region last week, dropping a 14-10 decision to the Lafayette College Leopards on February 9. Seniors
Aaron Forster and
Ryan Darrow each tallied four points (3 G, 1 A) to lead the Highlanders offense. Junior
John Tachon scooped up a team-high seven ground balls and senior
Tyler Stevenson won 20-of-26 faceoffs. Forster's hat trick was his seventh all-time and first since he tallied three against Wagner on March 24, 2018. The senior now has 14 career games with three or more goals scored. Darrow recorded a hat trick for the first time in his career and his three goals gave him 37 for his career, surpassing Joe Lomeli for second place all-time at NJIT. Senior
Tyler Stevenson set a new career high with his 20 successful faceoffs, topping his previous high of 17 against Hampton on April 15, 2017.
TEAM LEADERS
Ryan Darrow (7 goals, 8 points),
Aaron Forster (2 assists; tied with Darrow,
Cole Robillard and
Ryan Kaden),
John Tachon (10 ground balls),
Tyler Stevenson (27-41 FOs; .659), and
Kevin Falteisek (5 caused turnovers) are pacing the Highlanders so far this season.
(CLOSE TO) HOME SWEET HOME
Saturday's game against Delaware will make the first time that NJIT Men's Lacrosse will play a home game in the city of Newark. The Highlanders played their home games for the first four years at Drew University, will play their 2019 home contests at Rutgers-Newark's Alumni Field and begin play on campus next season.
HIGHEST OF HIGHLANDERS
Aaron Forster continues to sit atop the record books for the young Highlander program. After his last game, Forster extended his marks for most career goals (83), assists (37), and points (120) in NJIT history.
THE MORE, THE MERRIER
Ryan Darrow and
Cole Robillard's pair of multi-goal games in the opener at No. 13 Lehigh - the first time since April 21, 2018 that two players scored at least two goals in the same game - was topped against Lafayette. Forster and Darrow each scoring three times was the first time NJIT teammates netted at least three goals in the same game since April 15, 2017, when Forster (4 goals) and Ryan Callaghan (3) combined for seven of the Highlanders' 17 goals in a victory at Hampton.
CAREER HIGH FOR HUNT
Alexzander Hunt's 19 saves at Lehigh set a new career high for the second-year goalkeeper, surpassing the 15 stops he made in his second career start at UMass Lowell on April 28 of last year.
CAPTAINS FOR 2019
Fifth-year head coach
Travis Johnson has announced the four student-athletes who were voted captains by their teammates for 2019. Selected to lead the Highlanders are: senior midfielder
Ryan Darrow, senior attacker
Aaron Forster, junior attacker
Ryan Kaden, and junior defender
John Tachon. "Our team has chosen four outstanding young men that are stellar student-athletes, great leaders, high character men and phenomenal people. They lead by example and elevate the people around them. We are excited that they will lead us in the 2019 season," Johnson said about the quartet.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The Highlanders have continued to grow in their program in their five seasons of existence. After bringing in their largest squad ever in 2018 (38 members), the Highlanders has increased their numbers this year to 43 after bringing 11 newcomers into the fold.
QUALITY COMPETITION
NJIT'S 15-game schedule includes matchups with three teams ranked in either the first Inside Lacrosse or USILA polls of the season: Lehigh (13th IL /13th USILA); UMass (18th/NR); and Georgetown (19th/18th).
IN 2018...
- Forster paced NJIT in goals (30), assists (13), total points (43), man-up goals (6), shots (109), and shots on goal (58)
- Tachon scooped up the most ground balls (94) and caused the most turnovers (18).
-
Adam Gonzalez won 43.5% of his faceoffs (91-209) to lead the Highlanders.
SCOUTING DELAWARE
Delaware opened their 2019 campaign with an 11-8 road victory on February 9 over one of NJIT's future Northeast Conference members, Mount St. Mary's. The Blue Hens were led in scoring by juniro Bryce Reid (4 goals). Fellow junior Charlie Kitchen tallied the most points for Delaware, scoring a pair of goals and assisting on three others for five total points. Junior Matt DeLuca played all 60 minutes and stopped 13 shots en route to win for Delaware. Senior Jake Hervada picked up five ground balls and 14 faceoff wins.
