Men's Lacrosse 4/7/2021 4:36:00 PM

Men's Lacrosse Hosts No. 17/17 Stony Brook Under The Lights Saturday

Game 8	vs No. 17/17 Stony Brook (6-3, 4-1 AE)
Date \| Time	Saturday, April 10 \| 7:30 pm
Location \| Arena	Newark, NJ \| Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium
All-Time Series	Stony Brook leads 2-0
Live Stats	In-Game Statistics
Live Video	AmericaEast.TV
Game Notes	NJIT \| Stony Brook

NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT Men's Lacrosse (1-6, 1-4 AE) will play its penultimate home game of the season on Saturday afternoon against the No. 17/17 Stony Brook Seawolves.

LAST TIME OUT
NJIT and Binghamton wrapped up their home-and-home season series with a closely contested, highly entertaining battle but the visiting Highlanders were unable to secure the victory, falling 11-9 to the Bearcats on April 3 at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The Highlanders showed tremendous growth, nearly winning a second consecutive game after claiming its first win of the season and first-ever conference victory last week against UMass Lowell. The Highlanders and Bearcats combined for five ties and a pair of lead changes, converted on one man-up goal each, were extremely close in shots on goal (BING 26-22) and saves (NJIT 15-13), and matched each other in turnovers (19) and caused turnovers (12).

The Highlanders were paced by freshman Jack Bowie, who tied for the game high in goals (3) and points (5). Sophomore Gavyn Willson (2 G, 1 A), senior Collin Fogerty (2 G, 1 A), and senior Max Willson (3 A) each logged three points while freshmen Garrett Muscatella and reigning America East Offensive Player of the Week Owen Corry added a goal apiece.

Sophomore Liam Brown had another strong outing, making 15 saves in 60 minutes and helping the Highlanders stay within striking distance.

OFFENSIVE PICKING UP
In the Binghamton game (nine goals), NJIT narrowly missed out on recording back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time since they posted four straight games with ten or more from March 23 to April 13, 2019 (11 vs Wagner, 10 at Manhattan, 26 at Hampton, 18 at Siena).

AWARDS ROLL IN FOR CORRY
Corry's efforts in leading NJIT to its historic win over UMass Lowell on March 27 were recognized with a pair of honors. The America East tabbed him as the Offensive Player of the Week and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) named him to the Division I Team of the Week. The AE weekly honor was the first-ever for the Highlanders and the USILA accolade was the program's first since Aaron Forster made the team on March 6, 2019.

TOP HONORS
Brown's 20-save performance in the season opener vs. Delaware on February 20 currently stands as the top saves effort in the America East this season and is tied for the eighth-most saves in the country this year. Brown also ranks seventh in the nation in saves per game (14.29) and NJIT as a team is third in the NCAA in saves per game (16.29).

SIGNS OF GROWTH
NJIT's ten goals against Lehigh on February 27 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.

CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL RANKS
NJIT is currently ranked third in the nation in saves per game (16.29) and starting goalkeeper Liam Brown leads the America East in that category, stopping 14.29 shots per contest. Brown's numbers also ranked first (14.29 saves/gm), third (.552 save pct), and fourth (13.42 GAA) in the America East in their respective categories.

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.

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.

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 (12)
- Assists: Gavyn Willson (7)
- Points: Bowie (16)
- Ground Balls: Liam Brown (19)
- Man-Up Goals: Bowie (4)
- Faceoff %: Isaac Vanzomeren (.435 | 40-92)
- Shots: Owen Corry (46)
- SOG: Bowie (21 | .457)
- Caused Turnovers: Lynch Raby (10)
- Saves: Liam Brown (100)
- GAA: Brown (13.42)

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
Stony Brook holds a 2-0 lead over NJIT in the all-time series. NJIT and Stony Brook faced off earlier this season (Mar. 14), with the Seawolves winning 13-4 on Long Island.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Stony Brook has won four straight games, including their last meeting with the Highlanders, and are ranked No. 17 in both the Inside Lacrosse and USILA polls. Stony Brook is led by Dylan Pallonetti (25 G, 14 A), Austin Deskewicz (53 GB, 107-170 FO), and Anthony Palma (10.37 GAA, 96 saves).

NEXT UP
NJIT will start its final two-game road trip with a matchup at Hartford on Saturday, April 17 at 1 p.m.

Print Friendly Version