NEWARK, NJ--NJIT will look to make it two in a row when the Highlanders host Drexel in a non-conference men's soccer matchup on Saturday, March 27 at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. Kickoff slated for 2pm.
No Spectators at NJIT Athletic Contests
Due to COVID protocol policy, NJIT Department of Athletics is Prohibiting Spectators at our Indoor & Outdoor Athletic Events.
Game Information
Game time is slated for 2pm on Saturday, March 27. The match will be streamed live on America East TV with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com.
New Home for the Highlanders
NJIT, which officially joined the league on July 1, 2020, as the 10th full member institution, will begin its inaugural season in the America East on February 26 when the Highlanders visit UMBC.
The Highlanders were picked to finish fourth according to a vote of the league's coaches.
All-Time Series
Drexel enters the all-time series with a 2-0-2 record over the Highlanders. In the last meeting in 2019, the two teams played to a 1-1 double overtime draw. Regsan Watkins scored NJIT's lone goal, coming off the bench in the 37th minute.
NJIT Outlook
The Highlanders will be returning to competition off the programs first-ever ASUN Conference Regular Season and Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance.
NJIT, which finished with a Division I school-record ten wins last season, ranked in the Top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region poll all season, with its highest ranking coming during the second week of the season (No. 2). NJIT closed the season ranked fifth out of 10 teams.
The Highlanders finished last season 10-5-4 overall, 5-1-0 in the ASUN.
NJIT return seven players who earned All-ASUN honors including, 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).
Last Time Out
The NJIT men's soccer team returned back into the win column with a 4-2 home victory over visiting Binghamton led by senior Rene White, who scored a pair of goals in the Highlanders win in America East Conference men's soccer action at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
NJIT snaps a three-match skid, moving to 2-3-1 overall, 2-2-0 in the America East.
The four goals against the Bearcats is a new season-best mark for the Highlanders, surpassing the three goal output against Seton Hall on February 17 to open up the season.
The NJIT offense scored four goals and added three assists, including a two-goal four-point performance from White who returned back to the pitch for the first time since February 17.
White, the active NCAA career goals and points leader, added two more goals to his resume in the Highlanders win and now stands with 37 career goals and 80 career points.
Scouting the Highlanders
Led by the senior tandem of Rene White and Regsan Watkins, the pair leads NJIT with three goals followed by graduate student Tomas Jorge with two.
Three Highlanders -- Watkins, Jorge and Jose Escandon pace NJIT with three assists.
Reisgys has a 1.93 goals against average and 27 saves in goal.
Senior CLASS Award Candidate
White joins a list of 60 NCAA men's and women's student-athletes selected as 2020-21 Senior CLASS Award candidates.
The 6-foot forward was selected in the third round of the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake. He becomes the second Highlander to be drafted to the MLS in the last four years -- Mamadou Guirassy (Portland Timbers; fourth round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft).
Guirassy was selected one of 10 Senior CLASS Award finalists in 2017. That year, Guirassy led the nation in goals with (16).
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
Scouting the Dragons
Drexel enters this weekend's matchup with a 3-3-1 record, most recently picking up a victory on an early goal by Laolu Daranijo, which proved to be all that Drexel needed to get the shutout win over La Salle on March 24.
Daranijo tops the Dragons offense with five goals, one assist for 11 points followed by Chris Donovan who was selected to the Preseason Top 100 Players to Watch List by TopDrawerSoccer.com in February. This season, Donovan has combined for three goals and three assists for eight points this season.
Drexel freshman Cesar Banacloy Harcourt was named the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week on Monday, after scoring the Dragons' equalizing goal in their 2-2 draw on Sunday night against Delaware.
Next Up
NJIT will return to America East Conference action on April 2 when the Highlanders visit Stony Brook. Kickoff slated for 1pm.
In the first meeting in Newark on March 12, Stony Brook, which scored two goals in the first 10 minutes held on for the 2-0 road victory at NJIT.
Follow Us
Stay up to date during the 2021 NJIT men's soccer season by following @NJITSoccer on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Soccer page on Facebook.
