Men's Lacrosse 3/5/2021 6:04:00 PM

Men's Lacrosse Set To Play First-Ever Conference Game Saturday vs. Binghamton

Game 3	vs Binghamtom (0-0, 0-0 AE)
Date \| Time	Saturday, March 6 \| 1:00 pm
Location \| Arena	Newark, N.J. \| Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium
All-Time Series	First Meeting
Live Stats	In-Game Statistics
Live Video	AmericaEast.TV
Game Notes	NJIT (PDF) \| Binghamton

NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT Men's Lacrosse (0-2) returns home on Saturday afternoon for its first-ever conference matchup against the Binghamton Bearcats.

A NEW ERA BEGINS
The Highlanders are playing the 2021 campaign - its first in the program's seven-year history - with a true conference home. NJIT played its first five years as a Division I independent and competed in 2020 as an affiliate member of the Northeast Conference. Due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, NJIT's season was shortened before it was slated to play its first-ever conference game against Long Island University on March 14. That history-making contest is now scheduled for Saturday as full members of the America East Conference, which NJIT officially joined as its tenth member on July 1, 2020.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite its first double-digit scoring performance of the season, NJIT was unable to upset the No. 16/17 Lehigh Mountain Hawks, falling on the road, 24-10, on February 27. Leading the way for the Highlanders was freshman Jack Bowie, who paced the team with four total points (3 G, 1 A). Three other Highlanders joined Bowie as multi-goal scorers - sophomores Gavyn Willson and Owen Corry (2 G, 1 A each), and freshman Garrett Muscatella (2 G). Fellow newcomer Logan Hone rounded out NJIT's scoring with a goal of his own and added an assist. Senior Max Wilson also recorded an assist on the day. Corry led NJIT defensively with four ground balls while senior Collin Fogerty, Bowie, and senior Luke Binder each scooped up three. All three Highlander goalies saw action between the pipes and made at least four saves each. Sophomore Liam Brown (five saves) got the start and was relieved by freshman Bryce Zell (four saves) in the second quarter. Zell played until the fourth quarter, where freshman Yanni Kalas (five saves) stepped in to close the contest.

SIGNS OF GROWTH
NJIT's ten goals against Lehigh were the most the team has scored in the six-game series between the two teams and marked the most the Highlanders have scored against a ranked opponent. The previous mark for goals against a ranked foe was eight goals at No.13/13 Lehigh on Feb. 2, 2019.

A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER
Like many schools across the country, NJIT men's lacrosse will be managing the 2021 campaign while working to maintain the safety of the NJIT community during the current COVID-19 public health crisis. Please bookmark NJITHighlanders.com to keep up-to-date on any schedule changes that may arise because of the pandemic or weather-related issues.

As for fans this season, due to COVID protocol policy, the NJIT Department of Athletics is prohibiting spectators at our Indoor & Outdoor Athletic Events. The policy will be re-evaluated in March.

2021 CAPTAINS
Seventh-year head coach Travis Johnson named seniors Luke Binder (defender), Colton Johnson (midfielder), and Max Wilson (midfielder) team captains for the 2021 season. Binder was named team captain after serving last season and returning for a fifth campaign while Johnson and Wilson step into captaincy roles after Ryan Kaden and John Tachon graduated.

"We are proud to announce that Luke, CJ & Max will be our captains for the 2021 season. These young men have helped make an extremely difficult year a little easier with their leadership on and off the field. I'm so happy for these three young men that they have been picked by their teammates to represent them," Johnson said after naming the trio of leaders.

IN 2020 AND THE OFFSEASON
- NJIT nearly reset its single-game record for goals in a game with 24 against Hampton in its season-opening 24-7 victory
- The Highlanders set new team marks for single-game assists (15 vs Hampton) and points (39 vs Hampton)
- Max Wilson was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the Victoria Shamrocks in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) Graduating Junior Draft in February.

2021 LEADERS
- Goals: Jack Bowie (4)
- Assists: Seven players (1)
- Points: Bowie (5)
- Ground Balls: Isaac Vanzomeren (8)
- Man-Up Goals: Bowie (2)
- Faceoff %: Billy Kroeger (.600 | 6-10)
- Shots: Owen Corry (22)
- SOG: Bowie (7 | .318)
- Caused Turnovers: Jake Baumgardt (2)

STIFF COMPETITION
The Highlanders will face a nationally notable schedule this season, as five of NJIT's 11 scheduled opponents made an appearance on at least one of the two Week 1 polls (USILA and Inside Lacrosse):
- Delaware | RV IL
- Lehigh | No. 14 IL, No. 15 USILA
- Stony Brook | No. 20 IL, RV USILA
- UAlbany | RV - USILA and IL
- UMBC | RV USILA

2021 SCHEDULE NOTES
- 11 games scheduled - two non-conference, nine America East
- First home game: February 20 vs Delaware
- First road game: February 27 at Lehigh
- First-ever AE game: March 6 vs Binghamton
- First AE road game: March 13 at Stony Brook
- Repeat matchups: April 3 at Binghamton; April 10 vs Stony Brook
- Senior Day: May 1 vs UMBC
- America East Playoffs: March 6-8
- More than half of NJIT's opponents (six of 11) will be facing the Highlanders for the first time.
- NJIT is not scheduled to play back-to-back home games this season but will have a pair two-game road trips: March 27 at UMass Lowell and April 3 at Binghamton; April 17 at Hartford and April 24 at UAlbany.

ALL-TIME SERIES
NJIT and Binghamton will be meeting for the first time in their programs' histories.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Saturday's matchup will be Binghamton's 2021 season opener. The Bearcats finished the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign with a 1-5 record, with its lone win coming in triple overtime against Lafayette. Binghamton returns leaders Justin Roderka (12 G, 1 A), Kevin Winkoff (9 G, 6 A), Tom Galgano (22 GB), Brandon Rizzuto (49-131 FO), and Teddy Dolan (87 saves, 13.99 GAA).

NEXT UP
NJIT will play its first America East road game on Saturday, March 13 at Stony Brook. First faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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