NEWARK, N.J. --- NJIT Women's Soccer will play the second of two home matches this week on Thursday afternoon as the Highlanders face the Seton Hall Pirates at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

Despite playing to a scoreless halftime, the Highlanders could not fend off visiting Monmouth Hawks on Monday afternoon, losing to the Hawks, 2-0, in their home opener.

IN-STATE RIVALS

Thursday's matchup with Seton Hall will be the second of four contests NJIT will play against fellow New Jersey programs. This season, the Highlanders will face off against Monmouth (home, August 23), Seton Hall (home, August 26), Saint Peter's (home, Sept. 4) and Rider (away, Sept. 8).

JERSEY SOCCER DOUBLEHEADER

Thursday plans to be an outstanding showcase of soccer in the State of Jersey as well as NJIT's top-flight Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium and the Wellness & Events Center. The women's game between NJIT and Seton Hall is scheduled for a 4 p.m. kickoff, with the NJIT men's soccer team hosting Fairleigh Dickinson immediately after. Both contests will be broadcast on ESPN3 and will mark the first soccer doubleheader at NJIT featuring all New Jersey programs since the new Lubetkin Field was opened in Fall 2019.

APPLYING (DEFENSIVE) PRESSURE

NJIT won the corner kick battle in its season opener at St. John's, 11-8 (including a 6-0 first half advantage) and recorded double digit corners for the first time since putting up ten against LIU Brooklyn on August 19, 2018.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

A combination of merit and attrition allowed head coach Ally Nick to showcase some of her young players in Thursday's opener. Freshmen Ciara Adams, Caroline Caputo, Daniella Vito, and Taylor Pape all made the starting lineup against St. John's, the most true freshmen to start an opener under Nick during her six seasons in Newark.

BACK TO "NEW NORMAL"

After playing the 2020 campaign - its first season as members of the America East - during Spring 2021 and without fans, NJIT will have the chance to play a standard fall schedule in 2021 with fans back in attendance.

The Highlanders will play an 18-match schedule, equally divided between home, away, non-conference, and America East contests (nine each). NJIT's fall spectator policy will allow fans to attend matches while wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status.

2021 OUTLOOK

The Highlanders will bring back 21 returners from the 2020 campaign played in Spring 2021 and welcome seven freshmen and one transfer into the program. The veteran-laden squad is primed to bounce back from an inaugural season in the America East that saw NJIT finish 2-6-1 (0-5-1 AE). 

Sixth-year head coach Ally Nick will be able to call on a quartet of fifth-year seniors exercising the extra year of eligibility afforded to them by the COVID-19 pandemic (Jennifer Callaghan, Christine Conaghy, Yasmeen Malik, Tara Walenczyk) and four members of this year's senior class (Whitney Roth, Angela Harris, and former ASUN award winners Molly Saylor and Siani Magruder) to bring the rest of the roster along to reach the program's goals.

2020 RETURNING STATS LEADERS

Goals: Corbin Reifschneider/Lauren Chamberlain - 2

Assists: Christine Conaghy - 1

Points: Reifschneider/Chamberlain  - 4

Shots: Chamberlain - 22

Saves: Molly Saylor - 46

GAA: Saylor - 1.79

ALL-TIME SERIES

NJIT and Seton Hall, the Highlanders' second-ever Big East opponent, will be meeting for the first time in their history. The Highlanders and Pirates were scheduled to meet during the 2020 season (played in Spring 2021 due to COVID-19), but the contest was cancelled due to inclement weather on February 19.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Seton Hall opened their 2021 campaign on August 19 with a 1-0 home victory over Lafayette. The game-winning goal was scored by the Pirates' Naomi Welch and assisted by freshman Natalie Tavana. Seton Hall brings back two seniors for fifth years - Laura Hooper and Dani Brinckman.

NEXT UP

NJIT will hit the road on Sunday, August 29 to face Pittsburgh. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

FOLLOW US

Stay up to date during the NJIT women's soccer season by following @NJITWSoccer on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Women's Soccer page on Facebook.