Game 2	No. 15 Lehigh (0-0)
Date | Time	Saturday, February 12 | 11:30am
Location | Arena	Newark, N.J. | Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium
All-Time Series	Lehigh leads 6-0
Live Stats	In-Game Statistics
Live Video	AmericaEast.TV
Game Notes	NJIT (PDF) | LEHIGH

NEWARK, N.J. — The NJIT Men's Lacrosse team will open its 2022 home schedule on Saturday when the Highlanders host the No. 15 Lehigh Mountain Hawks at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

NJIT COVID-19 POLICY
For NJIT Men's Lacrosse games, masks are strongly encouraged when sitting in the stands of Lubetkin Field and unlike NJIT Athletics' indoor spectator policy, proof of vaccination is not required. However, masks ARE required when entering NJIT's Wellness and Events Center and NJIT's indoor spectator policy does apply.

LAST TIME OUT
The Highlanders opened 2022 on the road against No. 16/19 Delaware on February 5, falling to the Blue Hens, 19-9. NJIT was paced by a pair of new Highlanders in the game. Sophomore transfer Arthur Miller led the team with three goals and freshman Gage Adams registered a team-best four points (2 G, 2 A). Gavyn Willson matched the game high with three assists. Darren Romaine scored his first career goal, and returners Owen Corry (1 G), Collin Fogerty (1 G), and Garrett Muscatella (1 G, 1 A) also found their way onto the stat sheet.

The Highlanders gathered 27 total ground balls, led by Billy Kroeger (8) and Beck Gozdenovich (3). Fogerty, Teddy Grimley, and Matthew Bowerman were responsible for the team's three caused turnovers. Kroeger was strong at the faceoff X, going 20-25 and spearheading NJIT's 21-29 day at midfield (Isaac Vanzomeren was 1-4 on the day).

FACEOFF TAKEOFF
Billy Kroeger's 20 faceoff wins tied former Highlander Tyler Stevenson's school record for faceoff wins in a single game. Stevenson set the mark by going 20-26 at Lafayette on February 9, 2019. NJIT's 21 total faceoff wins (21-29) marked the first time the Highlanders corralled at least 20 faceoffs since the 2020 season opener against Hampton (2/1/2020; 20-33).

PUSHING THROUGH
In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NJIT will look to complete a 13-game slate in its eighth year as a program and its second season as a member of the America East conference. The Highlanders will play five home games in its third season at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium and travel for eight games.

DURING THE 2021-22 OFFSEASON

• Max Wilson was drafted 12th overall in the 2021 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Draft by the Halifax Thunderbirds.
• Eric Sherman was named an America East Winter Presidential Scholar Athlete as a student-athlete with a GPA of 3.75 or better.
• Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan was added to the Board of Directors of the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA).
• Head Coach Travis Johnson made changes to his coaching staff, elevating Blase Mantineo to lead assistant coach and hiring Cade Siddron to round out the staff.

2022 STATS LEADERS

• Goals: Arthur Miller (3)
• Assists: Gavyn Willson (3)
• Points: Gage Adams (4)
• Ground Balls: Billy Kroeger (8)
• Man-Up Goals: Miller (1)
• Faceoff %: Kroeger (.800 | 20-25)
• Shots: Owen Corry (8)
• SOG: Miller (4 | .750)
• Caused Turnovers: Lynch Raby (17)

TOP RETURNERS (2021 TOTALS)

• Goals: Owen Corry (19)
• Assists: Collin Fogerty (11)
• Points: Fogerty (26)
• Ground Balls: Isaac Vanzomeren (43)
• Man-Up Goals: Jack Bowie (4)
• Faceoff %: Vanzomeren (.466 | 90-193)
• Shots: Corry (79)
• SOG: Fogerty (38 | .481)
• Caused Turnovers: Bowerman/Fogerty/Grimley (1)

THROUGH THE GAUNTLET
The Highlanders will once again take on a highly competitive schedule with the goal of preparing for the rigors of the America East season. Like 2021, NJIT's schedule includes five teams that at least received votes in the Preseason Inside Lacrosse or USILA/Dynamic poll:

• Delaware: No. 16 IL / No. 19 USILA
• Lehigh: No. 14/10
• Army West Point: No. 10/13
• Vermont: No. 17/15
• UAlbany: RV/RV

WORKING OUR WAY UP
NJIT was voted to finish sixth in the seven-team America East Men's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll. With the conference's decision regarding Stony Brook's championship eligibility due to its pending departure for the CAA, the Highlanders will look to find their way into the top four of the remaining six teams eligible for the America East tournament and make a league tournament for the first time in program history.

2022 SCHEDULE NOTES

• 13 games scheduled - seven non-conference, six America East
• First home game: February 12 vs Lehigh
• First road game: February 5 at Delaware
• First AE game (road): March 19 at Vermont
• First AE home game: March 26 vs UMass Lowell
• First time opponent: February 19 at Harvard
• Senior Day: April 22 vs UAlbany
• America East Playoffs: March 5-7
• Longest Road Trip: February 19 - March 5 (Harvard, Army West Point, Wagner
• Longest Home Stand: March 26 - April 2 (UMass Lowell, Binghamton)

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Lehigh will be playing its first game of the season Saturday against the Highlanders. The Mountain Hawks went 10-2 (8-0 Patriot League) in 2021 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as the PL's automatic qualifier after a COVID-related no-contest by Loyola Maryland in the conference title game. Lehigh would fall to No.9 Rutgers in the first round of NCAAs, 12-5.

NEXT UP
NJIT begins a three-game road trip next Saturday (February 26) with its first-ever meeting against Harvard. First faceoff is scheduled for Noon and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.