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NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT men's soccer team will make its third consecutive trip to the America East Conference Men's Soccer Postseason Tournament on Saturday, November 5 as the No. 6 seeded Highlanders (5-7-4, 1-4-2 AE) will visit No. 3 seeded UAlbany (4-7-6, 3-1-3 AE).
Game Information
The match will be played at Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, NY with kickoff slated for 4pm on ESPN+. In-game statistics will be available on UAlbanySports.com.
2022 Playoff Bracket
Game 1: November 5 | 4pm | No. 6 NJIT at No. 3 UAlbany
Game 2: November 5 | 7pm | No. 5 Binghamton at No. 4 UMBC
Game 3: November 10 | 6pm | Winner of UMBC/Binghamton at No. 1 New Hampshire
Game 4: November 10 | 7pm | Winner of NJIT/UAlbany at No. 2 Vermont
Game 5: | November 13 | TBD | Championship Match
All-Time Series
UAlbany leads the all-time series, 3-2. In the regular season, UAlbany scored the lone goal of the contest in the 89th minute to earn the 1-0 victory at NJIT in Newark on October 22. Last season, in the 2021 America East Conference quarterfinals, NJIT upset third-ranked UAlbany to advance to the semifinals, defeating the Great Danes, 2-1.
How We Got Here?
With the home victory over Bryant and New Hampshire's 3-0 win over UMass Lowell on Tuesday, November 1 to conclude the regular season, NJIT has secured a spot in the 2022 America East Conference Men's Soccer Postseason Tournament.
The Highlanders pick up its first America East Conference victory of the season, improving to 5-7-4 overall, 1-4-2 in the league while Bryant concludes its season with a 3-10-1 overall mark and 0-6-1 record in their first season in the America East.
Four freshmen accounted for the Highlanders goals: Hugo Tavares (35'), Jackson Gould (57'), Enrique Mutsoli (59') and Joseph Davis (76'). Senior Alejandro Rabell combined for a pair of assists while classmate Samuel Reisgys recorded the clean sheet.
Highlanders in Postseason
11/10/21 | L, 2-3 at No. 2 Vermont | America East Semifinals
11/6/21 | W, 2-1 at No. 3 UAlbany | America East Quarterfinals
4/15/21 | L, 0-1 at No. 2 Vermont | America East Semifinals
11/10/19 | W, 3-2 vs. No. 4 Stetson | ASUN Semifinals
11/16/19 | W, 2-1 vs. No. 2 FGCU | ASUN Finals
11/21/19 | L, 0-2 at Providence | NCAA First Round
*First NCAA appearance at the Division I level
11/3/18 | T, 3-3; No. 6 Lipscomb advances on PK's, 3-0 | ASUN Quarterfinals
11/4/16 | L, 1-2 at No. 5 Jacksonville | ASUN Quarterfinals
11/12/15 | L, 1-2 at Appalachian State | Sun Belt Quarterfinals
11/13/14 | L, 0-1 at Appalachian State | Sun Belt Quarterfinals
11/10/11| W, 4-1 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/11/11 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/10 | L, 0-2 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/09 | W, 3-0 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/13/09 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/12/08 | W, 3-1 vs. Howard | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/13/08 | L, 0-3 vs. Adelphi | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
11/16/07 | L, 0-1 at Florida Atlantic | Atlantic Soccer Tournament
Note: First year of NCAA Division I competition for men's soccer (2004)
Scouting the Highlanders
NJIT has collected wins this season against James Madison, La Salle, Sacred Heart, Hartford and Bryant to record the first win in America East action on November 1 while tying Drexel, Rider, UMass Lowell and Binghamton and dropped decisions at Big East foes UConn and Villanova, Iona from the MAAC, three-time defending America East Conference regular season champions New Hampshire, then-ranked No. 12 Vermont and UAlbany.
Prior to the New Hampshire goal in the second half on October 8, NJIT set a new Division I program record scoreless streak with a time of 407:25. NJIT entered the match unbeaten in the last four, registering three ties (Rider, UMass Lowell, Binghamton) and a victory against Sacred Heart).
Jose Del Valle leads the Highlander attack with four goals and nine points followed by Goncalo Franco, Asembo Augo and Hugo Tavares with three goals. Tavares has scored in two consecutive contests for the Highlanders (at UMBC; Oct. 28 & vs. Bryant; Nov. 1). Freshman Maximus Barboto, who has earned America East Conference Rookie of the Week twice this season thus far, is the son of head coach Fernando Barboto.
Senior co-captain Samuel Reisgys has played in every match but one in goal for the Highlanders this season, posting a 1.59 goals-against average and a .701 saves percentage. His 235 career saves tops the record books in the NJIT All-Time Division I era.
This season, the Highlanders have registered seven shutouts, which ties the NJIT Division I mark for shutouts in a season (7 in 2016).
8/28 vs. James Madison | 1,-0
9.10 at La Salle | 1-0
9/20 vs. Sacred Heart | 2-0
9/24 vs. UMass Lowell | T, 0-0
10/1 vs. Binghamton | T, 0-0
10/18 vs. Hartford | W, 4-0
11/1 vs. Bryant | W, 4-0
NJIT All-Time Division I Career Assists Leader
With a pair of assists in NJIT's 4-0 win over Bryant on November 1, senior Alejandro Rabell became NJIT's All-Time Division I career assists leader with 19. Rabell ranks second all-time in the record books.
America East Rankings
4th | Samuel Reisgys | 5 Shutouts
4th | Samuel Reisgys | 3.60 Saves Per Game
6th | Maximus Barboto | 4 Assists
6th | Samuel Reisgys | 1.586 GAA
7th | Samuel Reisgys | 54 Saves
9th | Jose Del Valle | 4 Goals
9th | Jose Del Valle | 9 Points
A Look at UAlbany Great Danes
UAlbany is coming off a 0-0 draw against No. 8 Vermont on November 1. At home this season, the Great Danes are 2-2-4.
The Great Danes picked up three America East Conference wins this season against: NJIT (1-0; Oct. 22), Bryant (3-0; Oct. 1) and UMBC (1-0; Sept. 24).
Saad Faiz, who has played in every match (17) paces the team with three goals, one assists for seven points.
Goalkeeper Shafique Wilson ranks third in the America East in saves per game.
