NEWARK, N.J. — The NJIT men's lacrosse team opened its 2023 home schedule with a battle against first-time opponent Mount St. Mary's. Despite an even first half, the Highlanders were unable to complete their rally from a third quarter deficit and were defeated 13-10 by the Mountaineers Saturday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Arthur Miller led the way for NJIT (0-2) by matching his career high in goals with a hat trick performance.
• Six other Highlanders entered the scoring column: a pair of goals from freshman Ryan Sininsky (the firsts of his career) and one goal apiece from Gavyn Willson, Owen Corry, Isaac Vanzomeren, Jack Bowie, and Brandon Wasitowski.
• Along with his goal, Corry tied for the game high and matched his career-high of two assists, which he previously reached two other times in his career.
• Vanzomeren had a strong outing, adding a team-high four ground balls and nine faceoff wins (9-14 overall).
• Liam Brown once again stood tall despite the Mount St. Mary's (1-3) offensive pressure, stopping 18 shots one week after parrying 20 against Siena.

1ST QUARTER

• Mount St. Mary's found a quick offensive groove and took a 3-0 lead before the midway point of the first period.
• However, the grit that the Highlanders displayed in their first game at Siena showed itself against the Mountaineers. NJIT would get on the board at the 7:11 mark on a Josh Failla-to-Owen Corry connection and by the 4:00 mark had the game tied after Miller and Sininsky found the net on solo efforts.

2ND QUARTER

• Jack Bowie put the Highlanders ahead for the first time in the game (10:48) on a man-up goal assisted by Willson but the Mountaineers took less than a minute (10:01) to respond and knot the game again at 4-4, where it would stay until halftime.

3RD QUARTER

• The two teams swapped roles from the second quarter in tying the game at 5-5, with Mount St. Mary's scoring the first goal of the period (14:22) and NJIT responding in kind (13:03) on a second EMO goal (Miller from Garrett Muscatella).
• Mount St. Mary's would then go on a 4-0 scoring run that eventually proved to be decisive.
• NJIT clawed back one by scoring two of the final three goals in the frame (Vanzomeren on his second scoop-and-score in as many games at 2:03; Wasitowski unassisted with eight seconds remaining) to set the score heading into the fourth at 10-7.

4TH QUARTER

• The fourth quarter of was third of the game that finished even (3-3; 3-3 in 1st, 1-1 in 2nd), which left the third as the most impactful of the contest.
• The Mountaineers scored first with 13:42 remaining and set off a literal back and forth that kept the Highlanders behind by three to four goals the rest of way.
• Willson got on the scored 31 seconds after that first MSM goal (13:11; 11-8), Miller scored another man-up goal (10:18) less than two minutes after MSM's next goal (12-9), and Sininsky added his second tally with 2:43 left in the contest (13-10).
• A frantic final two minutes would see the Highlanders register five shots on goal but none could trim the Mount St. Mary's lead down past three.

OTHER NOTES

• Willson's goal on Saturday extended his current personal goal streak to 11 games (his final nine of 2022 and the first two of 2023).
• The 38 saves across two games Brown has made to open the season are the second-most in back-to-back games in his career (40; 19 at Delaware on 2/15/20; 21 vs Lehigh on 2/22/20).

NEXT UP
NJIT will hit the road for a mid-week in-state battle next Tuesday (February 21) against Monmouth. Opening faceoff is slated for 2 p.m. in West Long Branch.