NEWARK, NJ--NJIT men's soccer head coach Fernando Barboto has announced the addition of seven student-athletes, who will join the team in Fall 2021.

Here is a closer look at the 2021 recruiting class.

Justin Aguirre-Rosas | Defender/Midfielder | Parsippany, NJ | PDA 
Aguirre-Rosas, a 5-foot-7 defender/midfielder attended Parsippany Hills High School and played for the Player Development Academy (PDA).

A four-year member of the honors society, latin club publicist and Spanish Honors Society, Aguirre-Rosas intends to major in business in the Fall 2021 at NJIT.

Coach Barboto on Aguirre-Rosas: "Justin is a very talented player with excellent versatility.  He is a technically gifted left-footed player."
 

Goncalo Franco | Center Midfielder | Lisbon, Portugal
Franco joins NJIT, hailing from Libson, Portugal and after attending Madeira Torres High School. 

He intends to major in business at NJIT in Fall 2021.

Coach Barboto on Franco: "Goncalo is a midfielder that will come to us with plenty of experience and understanding of the game.  We look for him to complement the center of the field for us".
 

Juan Gonzalez | Center Back | Paterson, NJ | Futbol Total Academy 
A second-team all-State honoree at Passaic County Technical Institute, Gonzalez combined for four goals and two assists in 2021. 

Gonzalez played club for Futbol Total Academy and intends to major in communication and media.

Coach Barboto on Gonzalez: "Juan has excellent power in his runs and movement.  He has a very high soccer IQ, as well as being very versatile on the field in the midfield, on the flanks or wingback."
 

Asembo Augo | Forward | Mays Landing, NJ | Surf South Shore 
Augo from Mays Landing, NJ, concluded his high school career at Oakcrest High School with 37 career goals and 13 career assists.

An All-State, All-Cape Atlantic League, All-Press of Atlantic City, All-Courier Press and All-South Jersey honoree led Oakcrest to back-to-back Cape Atlantic League Champions (2020, 2019) and Cape Atlantic League Tournament Champions (2019).

As a senior, Augo tallied 21 goals and six assists.  He played club for Surf South Shore

An distinguished varsity scholar, Augo intends to major in computer science in the Fall 2021 at NJIT.

Coach Barboto on Augo: "Asembo is a player that will need to adapt to the speed of play in college but with his athleticism and strong work rate I think it will not take long at all.   He is a local product that we believe can develop quite well."
 

Jair Arriaga | Midfielder | North Bergen, NJ | Cedar Stars Bergen
Arriaga, a 5-foot-8 midfielder, attended St. Peter's Prep, earning first-team All-County honors.

He played club for the Cedae Stars Bergen and intends to major in computer science in the Fall 2021 at NJIT.

Coach Barboto on Arriaga: "Jaire is a player that will need to adapt to the speed of play in college but with his skillful touches and soccer IQ I think it will not take long at all.   He is a local product that we believe has developed quite well."
 

Gabriel Maksymiw | Goalkeeper | Clifton, NJ | New Jersey Stallions Academy 
Maksymiw, a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper, helped guide Clifton High School to consecutive Big North Liberty Division Champions (2019, 2020), Passaic County Champions (2017, 2019) and went undefeated in Group 4 NJ State Champions (2019).

He played for the New Jersey Stallions Academy (Bayern 02).

A member of the Distinguished Honor Roll for three years (2018, 2019, 2020) and National Honors Society Induction in 2020, Maksymiw will major in civil engineering at NJIT in Fall 2021.

Coach Barboto on Maksymiw: "Gabe is a ver technical goalkeeper that will add to our team depth.  He is a character kid who will be a model student-athlete at NJIT."
 

Felix Schmidt | Goalkeeper | San Diego, CA | Barca Residency Academy
Schmidt comes to NJIT from San Diego, California where he attended ASU Preparatory Academy Casa Grande but did not play soccer in high school.

The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper played for Barca Residency Academy, helping guide the team to six tournament wins, Arizona State Cup Champions (2017, 2018), second-place finish in Far West Regional League (2018, 2019) and Regional Quarterfinals (2018, 2019).

Schmidt, who intends to major in biology at NJIT in the Fall 2021, earned summa cum laude all four years at ASU Preparatory Academy. 

Coach Barboto on Schmidt: "Felix joins us from Barca Residency Academy, which is one of the best academies in the country. We are very excited to bring someone of his calibur and pedigree to our program."
 

The Highlanders, which report into preseason camp in less than a month, welcome back 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-American Rene White (Career: 52G, 38A, 82PTS), 2021 America East Striker of the Year Regsan Watkins (2021: 7G, 3A, 17PTS), 2019 ASUN Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Samuel Reisgys and 2021 America East Second-Team member Alejandro Rabell.

NJIT will open its 2021 campaign, welcoming Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, August 26 on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.