NEWARK, NJ--Coming off a 4-1 home opener victory, the NJIT men's soccer team will be back in action at home on Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, Monday, August 30, hosting Rider at 7pm.
Gameday Information
Game time is slated for 7pm on August 30. The match will be streamed live on America East TV with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com .
All-Time Series
Monday will mark the 16th all-time meeting between the two programs with Rider leading the series, 9-4-2 (5-2-1 in the DI era).
In the last meeting on August 31, 2018, NJIT shutout the Broncos, 1-0.
Back to "New Normal"
After playing the 2020 campaign - its first season as a member of the America East Conference (joined the league on July 1, 2020 as the 10th full member institution) - during Spring 2021 and without fans, NJIT will have the chance to play a standard fall schedule in 2021 with fans back in attendance.
NJIT's 2021 schedule features a 17-match regular season slate, including 10 matches at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, nine non-conference contests, eight America East Conference matches and three against NCAA Tournament participants. NJIT's fall spectator policy will allow fans to attend matches while wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status.
NCAA Men's Soccer Division I Active Lists
Fifth-year senior Rene White is the active NCAA Division I goals (40) and points (87) leader while teammate Regsan Watkins ranks second to White with 35 goals and 85 points.
Last Time Out
White scored a pair of goals and added an assist as the Highlanders picked up its first win of the 2021 season, defeating visiting Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-1, in the season opener Thursday evening.
Rising sophomore Jose Escandon combined for one goal and one assist, 2021 America East Striker of the Year Regsan Watkins and Tomas Jorge were each credited with a pair of assists and Sergio Pita put away the fourth Highlander goal of the evening.
America East Preseason Coaches' Poll
NJIT, which played its first season in the America East Conference in the Spring 2021, made the programs first-ever appearance in the postseason tournament after sitting atop Pod C with a 4-2 conference record, earning the No. 3 seed. NJIT finished the season with a 4-5-1 overall record.
The Highlanders were selected to finish third according to the vote of the nine league coaches in the 2021 Fall Preseason Coaches Poll.
Scouting the Opponent
Rider (0-1) was selected fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Graduate Student midfielder Francisco Gomez Olano was named to the Preseason All-MAAC team.
In addition to Olano, the Broncs return graduate student forward Pablo DeCastro, who's scored 27 goals and registered 61 points over the last four seasons.
The Broncs opened the 2021 campaign at Villanova, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Wildcats.
Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Men's soccer season by following @NJITSoccer on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Men's Soccer page on Facebook.
