NEWARK, NJ--The NJIT men's soccer team will begin a two game road stretch in America East Conference action this weekend, beginning with a 2pm kickoff at UAlbany on Saturday at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium.
Game Information
Kickoff is set for 2pm at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium on the campus of UAlbany. The match will be streamed live on America East TV with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com.
All-Time Series
Saturday will mark the third all-time meeting between the two schools. The series is tied at 1-1. UAlbany picked up the last win which dates back to 2011 when UAlbany recorded a 4-1 victory in Newark. In 2010, NJIT recorded a 4-1 win over UAlbany.
Last Time Out
Nigel Buckley scored the go-ahead goal for visiting La Salle in the Explorers 2-1 victory at NJIT Tuesday evening in non-conference men's soccer action at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
La Salle scored the game-winner in the 83rd minute after an initial shot by Junior Nare, which bounced off the near post. Buckley collected the ball inside the box and blasted a shot on an open goal for a 2-1 score.
NJIT's graduate student Rene White tallied his 45th career goal, which ranks first among NCAA Division I active career leaders in goals (45) and points (98). Junior Alejandro Rabell was credited with his team-leading fourth assist.
NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Career Active List
NJIT graduate students Rene White and Regsan Watkins are ranked the top three in goals and top three in points among NCAA Division I active career men's soccer leaders as of September 24.
White, from Bloomfield, NJ, ranks first in the NCAA in career goals (45) and tied for first in points (98) with SMU's Gabriel Costa while teammate Watkins, from Capetown, South Africa sits in second in goals (38) and tied for third in points (91) with Rhode Island's Patrick Agyemang.
A 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team honoree, White ranks third all-time in the record books in goals and fourth in points while holding the NJIT Division I record for total goals.
Watkins, the 2021 America East Conference Striker of the Year, ranks fourth all-time at NJIT in goals and fifth in points. The Highlander forward played two seasons at Bloomfield College prior to attending NJIT, tallying 22 goals.
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.
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.
America East Stat Leaders
Goals
Rene White (T-1st) - 7
Points
Rene White (1st) - 16
Jose Escandon (8th) - 7
Regsan Watkins (10th) - 8
Assists
Tomas Jorge (T-3rd) - 4
Alejandro Rabell (T-3rd) - 4
Scouting the Opponent
UAlbany enters the weekend with a 5-3 overall mark, 0-1 record in America East action.
The Great Danes recently recorded a 3-2 overtime victory over Rhode Island. In the 105th minute, Adam Aoumaich found Austin DaSilva on the right side of the field. DaSilva broke down a Rhode Island defender and fired a shot near post, past Schmidt for the goal. It was DaSilva's first score of the season, and it claimed victory for UAlbany, 3-2.
In the America East Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches Poll, the Great Danes drew 33 points in fourth place, behind three-time defending conference champion and unanimous favorite New Hampshire, who landed 64 points and all nine possible first-place votes. NJIT was picked one spot ahead of UAlbany in third with 48 points. Vermont, picked second, drew 57 points and the remaining first place vote.
UAlbany returns its five leading scorers from the 2021 spring season, including top scorer Adam Aoumaich (4 goals, 1 assist) and 2019 America East Striker of the Year Austin DaSilva (2 goals, three assists).
Next Up
NJIT will return to action when the Highlanders visit defending America East Champions New Hampshire on October 1, who are currently 8-0 on the season and ranked No. 9 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll.
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.
