DURHAM, NH–The No. 5 seeded NJIT saw its 2023 season come to a close in a hard fought 1-0 loss in the America East Conference Semifinal to No. 1 seeded New Hampshire Wednesday evening at Wildcat Stadium.
New Hampshire (12-4-1), the 2023 America East Conference regular season champions and ranked No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches national poll, will await the winner of the No. 2 Bryant/No. 6 Binghamton match.
The Wildcats lone goal of the match was scored in the 23rd minute by Georgios Koliniatis while goalkeeper Joseba Incera registered the shutout. NJIT (7-8-4) counterpart Samuel Reisgys made four saves in the match.
New Hampshire struck first in the 23rd minute on a blast from Georgios Koliniatis, who made a quick spin inside the box and sent home the first goal of the match to the far post for a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats nearly made it 2-0 in the 27th minute on a shot by Liam Bennett. Bennett's shot went off the top of the crossbar and NJIT's Justin Aguirre-Rosas cleared the ball off the line.
In the 79th minute, Jordi Navio Sanchez carried the ball down into the box, crossing the ball just missing a sliding Enrique Mutsoli. Tri-captain Goncalo Franco followed up with a shot which sailed over the top of the goal.
Maximus Barboto served the ball into the box in the 80th minute, placing the ball just ahead of a running Mutsoli who was inches away from getting a toe on the ball.
NJIT Notes
–NJIT advanced to its fourth straight America East Tournament appearance and third America East semifinals under eighth-year head coach Fernando Barboto.
–The Highlanders recorded two wins over nationally ranked Vermont: Upset No. 15 Vermont (Oct. 7) – First time defeating ranked team since 2015; Took down No. 14 Vermont, 2-1, in the 2023 #AEMSOC Quarterfinals
–Graduate student goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys concluded his five-year career at NJIT as the Highlanders all-time career saves leader with 303 career saves and played in his 78 career matches, which is a new NJIT DI career mark.
–Sophomore Maximus Barboto, the 2022 America East Conference Rookie of the Year, sits tied for ninth in the nation in assists with 9. The nine assists in a single season is a new NJIT Division I record and his 13 career assists ranks fifth all-time in the NJIT Division I era.
–Four Highlanders earned 2023 America East All-Conference honors – Barboto (1st team), Alvaro Heredia (2nd team), Cristian LoGrasso (All-Rookie) and Reisgys (All-Academic team).
The America East is ranked #5 as a conference behind the Pac-12, ACC, Sun Belt and Big Ten. The America East currently has five teams in the top-65 of RPI. New Hampshire ranks fifth, Bryant (21st), Vermont (24th), NJIT (42nd) and UMBC (66th).
The America East All-Championship team will be announced on Sunday, November 12.
