NEWARK, NJ--No. 6 NJIT clinched a spot in the 2021 America East Conference semifinals and will visit No. 2 Vermont on Wednesday, November 10.
Game Information
Kickoff is slated for 6pm at Virtue Field on America East TV with in-game statistics available on UVMAthletics.com.
All-Time Series
Vermont leads the all-time series, 3-0. The match vs. Vermont will be a rematch for the Highlanders, who fell 1-0 in the semifinals of the America East Tournament last season. The Catamounts came out on top against the Highlanders 1-0 in the regular season match this season in Newark, 1-0, on October 9, scoring the lone goal in the fourth minute.
How We Got Here?
--NJIT Alejandro Rabell and Goncalo Franco each scored a goal in the Highlanders 2-1 upset at No. 3 UAlbany in the America East quarterfinals on November 6. Rabell got the scoring going in the 43rd minute just before, heading into the half and America East All-Rookie team honoree Franco scored a header off a corner kick in the 58th minute as the Highlanders held on for a 2-1 victory over the Great Danes.
--NJIT fifth-year forward Rene White scored a brace in the Highlanders 2-0 win at Hartford in the regular season finale at Al-Marzook Field on November 1.
--With the win at Hartford and a UMass Lowell loss against New Hampshire, the Highlanders have clinched a spot in the 2021 America East Conference Men's Soccer Postseason Tournament as the No. 6 seed.
NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Career Active List
NJIT graduate students Rene White and Regsan Watkins are ranked the top three in goals and top three in points among NCAA Division I active career men's soccer leaders as of November 8.
White, from Bloomfield, NJ, ranks first in the NCAA in career goals (49) and in points (108) while teammate Watkins, from Capetown, South Africa sits tied for second in goals (40) and third in points (99).
A 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team honoree, White ranks third all-time in the record books in goals and fourth in points while holding the NJIT Division I record for total goals.
Watkins, the 2021 America East Conference Striker of the Year, ranks fourth all-time at NJIT in goals and fifth in points. The Highlander forward played two seasons at Bloomfield College prior to attending NJIT, tallying 22 goals.
2021 National Rankings
NJIT's White ranks tied for 15th in the nation in total goals with 11. His 26 total points ranks tied for 14th. White tops the America East in goals and in points this season.
2021 Spring America East Men's Soccer Tournament
NJIT, which played its first season in the America East Conference in the Spring 2021, made the programs first-ever appearance in the postseason tournament after sitting atop Pod C with a 4-2 conference record, earning the No. 3 seed. NJIT finished the season with a 4-5-1 overall record. The Highlanders dropped a 1-0 decision against No. 2 Vermont in the quarterfinals.
Highlanders in Postseason
11/6/21 | W, 2-1 at No. 3 UAlbany | America East Quarterfinals
4/15/21 | L, 0-1 at No. 2 Vermont | America East Semifinals
11/10/19 | W, 3-2 vs. No. 4 Stetson | ASUN Semifinals
11/16/19 | W, 2-1 vs. No. 2 FGCU | ASUN Finals
11/21/19 | L, 0-2 at Providence | NCAA First Round
*First NCAA appearance at the Division I level
11/3/18 | T, 3-3; No. 6 Lipscomb advances on PK's, 3-0 | ASUN Quarterfinals
11/4/16 | L, 1-2 at No. 5 Jacksonville | ASUN Quarterfinals
11/12/15 | L, 1-2 at Appalachian State | Sun Belt Quarterfinals
11/13/14 | L, 0-1 at Appalachian State | Sun Belt Quarterfinals
11/10/11| W, 4-1 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/11/11 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/10 | L, 0-2 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/09 | W, 3-0 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/13/09 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/08 | W, 3-1 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/13/08 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/16/07 | L, 0-1 at Florida Atlantic | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
Note: First year of NCAA Division I competition for men's soccer (2004)
America East All-Conference Accolades
Rene White | 1st Team, All-Academic
11 goals (Tops America East; T-15th in Nation)
26 points (Tops America East, T-14th in nation)
Leads NCAA Division I active players in career goals (49) and points (108)
3.66 GPA; Grad GPA: 3.91 - Management; 6X Dean's List (undergrad)
Regsan Watkins | 2nd Team, All-Academic
5 goals, 6 assists, 16 points
Ranked tied for second in the NCAA Division I among active players in career goals (40) and third in points (99)
3.76GPA, Business w/ concentration in Marketing; 4X Dean's List
Goncalo Franco | All-Rookie
17 matches, 13 starts at midfield
First collegiate goal vs. UMBC (10.28.21)
Scored two goals in the last two out of three matches, including go-ahead goal in NJIT's 2-1 win at No. 3 UAlbany on November 6
Joao Costa | All-Academic
4.0 GPA, Business, 4X Dean's List
Samuel Reisgys | All-Academic
4.0 GPA, Business, 4X Dean's List
Stay Connected
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