NEWARK, N.J. — The 2022 NJIT Men's Lacrosse season officially begins this Saturday afternoon as the Highlanders travel to a Newark 120 miles away to face the University of Delaware Blue Hens.
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, beginning with Saturday's fifth-ever meeting with the Blue Hens.
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.
TOP RETURNERS (2021 TOTALS)
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
Delaware enters 2022 ranked in the top 20 in both the Inside Lacrosse and USILA/Dynamic polls. The Blue Hens went 10-3 (7-1 CAA) in 2021, winning the outright CAA regular season title for the first time in program history before getting upset in the CAA Semifinals by No. 4 Hofstra.
NEXT UP
NJIT will kick off its home schedule next Saturday (February 12) as the team hosts Lehigh. First faceoff is scheduled for 11:30 am
