Game 3 | Away Game 1	at California Baptist (1-0)
Date | Time	Thursday, August 24 | 10:00 pm ET
Location | Arena	Riverside, CA | CBU Soccer Stadium
All-Time Series | Last Meeting	First Meeting
Live Stats	In-game statistics (free)
Live Video	ESPN+

 

Game 4 | Away Game 2	at UC Riverside
Date | Time	Sunday, August 27 | 2:00 pm ET
Location | Arena	Riverside, CA | UCR Soccer Stadium
All-Time Series | Last Meeting	First Meeting
Live Stats	In-game statistics (free)
Live Video	TBA

NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time in program history, the NJIT women's soccer team (1-01) will head out to the state of California this week as the Highlanders prepare for a pair of games in the Golden State: Thursday, August 24 against California Baptist and Sunday, August 27 against UC Riverside.

LAST TIME OUT
NJIT ended the opening weekend of the regular season on a very high note, putting together a record performance in its 7-0 victory over Saint Peter's on August 20. The seven goals scored matched the program's single-game record, set seven years ago in head coach Ally Nick's fourth-ever game leading the Highlanders on August 29, 2016. The offensive charge was led by senior Gabby Zalot, who finished with two goals and two assists to set the NJIT Division I record for points in a game (6) after never scoring a collegiate goal in 34 previous games between NJIT and Valparaiso.

Sophomore Mikayla Balio also had a career day, logging her first-ever goal and assist for a career-best three points. The Highlanders also got goals from fifth-year Madison Taibl, sophomore Aleesha Deshmukh, and freshmen Merle Hueser and Taty Schivel.

Goalkeepers Samantha Constantine and Mojisola Ayodele once again split time in net and produced a second straight combined shutout, with Ayodele notching another save and the NJIT defense keeping Constantine from facing a shot on goal for a second consecutive game.

NEWS AND NOTES TO KNOW
2012: NJIT's trip to California marks the first time the team has played in the Western US since its final contests as members of the former Great West Conference (Oct. 5, 2012 at Utah Valley and Nov. 3, 2012 vs Howard in the GWC Tournament at UVU). The two game swing is part of the Highlanders' 18-match slate for 2023.

13: Zalot's opening weekend efforts helped her earn the first America East Offensive Player of the Week award of the season - the 13th AE weekly honor the Highlanders have picked up since joining the conference in July 2020 (4 Offensive, 5 Defensive, 4 Rookie). Her six-point game against Saint Peter's bested the previous NJIT D-I mark of five points, last set by teammate Bailey Chant on September 4, 2021 at home against Saint Peter's and first done by alumna Kori Washington on October 24, 2007 against Howard.

2021: The 7-0 victory over Saint Peter's marked the most goals scored by NJIT since September 4, 2021, when the Highlanders defeated the same Saint Peter's team by a 6-0 margin at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

The last NJIT player with two assists in a game before Zalot was Highlander alumna Siani Magruder in the 2021 Saint Peter's matchup.

Aleesha Deshmukh's goal vs SPU was her first since scoring as a freshman against Saint Peter's in that 2021 contest.

5: That 2021 Saint Peter's game was also the last time five NJIT players scored in one game (Chant, Deshmukh, Briana Ramirez, and recent grads Christine Conaghy and Tara Walenczyk).

The five total shots the NJIT defense allowed in the season opening 0-0 draw against Mount St. Mary's were the program's third-fewest allowed in a season opener since going Division I in 2006 (2 shots allowed at Saint Peter's on Aug. 17, 2012; 4 shots allowed against LIU last season). 

28: NJIT's record against Saint Peter's all-time improves to 13-2-1, including 12 wins in a row, six straight shutouts, and a +28 differential (28-0) across those six shutouts.

1: Merle Hueser was the only newcomer to crack the Starting XI in the first two games. Fellow freshmen Taty Schivel, Sydney Burlingame and Victoria Terranova, and grad transfer Mikaela O'Fallon have also made their NJIT debuts in the first two games.

Mojisola Ayodele also made her first career appearance in goal in her second season in the opener against Mount St. Mary's, replacing new starter Samantha Constantine as a second half sub and making her first career save.

357: Number of days since between fifth year Madison Taibl's last game of 2022 (August 25) and Thursday's opener as the veteran defender worked her way back from injury.

7: NJIT is unbeaten in its last seven home season openers (5-0-2 record) since a 2-0 loss against Temple on August 23, 2013.

17: NJIT's +17 differential on total shots (23-6) vs Saint Peter's was the team's highest since the Highlanders offense went +24 (31-7) against Delaware State at home on October 7, 2022.

3: The 2022 Delaware State game was also the last time NJIT assisted on three goals in a game as a team.

For the third time in the last five seasons, the Highlanders have gone unbeaten after their first two games. In the 2020 campaign (played in Spring 2021), NJIT defeated Drexel and Wagner at home in its first two. Last year, a home opening 4-0 win over LIU and a draw against Big East foe St. John's kept NJIT without a loss to start the season

NJIT will look to reach its third consecutive America East tournament this year. The last time the Highlanders played in at least three straight league tournaments, NJIT competed in four consecutive Great West Conference tourneys from 2009-12. Under Coach Nick, NJIT has made back-to-back playoff appearances twice across two different leagues: 2018-19 in the ASUN and 2021-22 in the America East. The Highlanders were picked to finish sixth in this year's AE Preseason Poll, which would be the minimum to clinch the third berth at season's end.

2-1-2: NJIT has posted a 2-1-2 record in its last five season openers: wins against LIU (4-0, 2022) and Drexel (3-1, 2020; played in Spring 2021), ties against Mount St. Mary's (0-0, 2023) and UMBC (0-0 in 2OT, 2019 - 1st game at new Lubetkin Field), and a lone defeat at St. John's (0-3, 2021).

8: 2023 will be the eighth season at the helm of the Highlanders program for head coach Ally Nick since taking over in 2016. Nick has compiled an overall record (W-L-D) of 47-54-17 (19-28-6 conference - ASUN & America East) over seven seasons and 14-24-9 (7-12-4 AE) in three campaigns as a member of the America East conference (since 2020).

29: NJIT will field an active roster of 29 during the 2023 campaign: 21 returners (including 2022 AE All-Championship selection Ciara Adams, 2022 AE All-Rookie honoree Riley Jones, 2021 AE All-Rookie selection Caroline Caputo, and veteran captains Emma Bitar and Madison Taibl), seven freshmen and one grad transfer.

11: This year's roster is even more diverse than last year's in terms of hometowns. The active roster hails from 11 different locales - New Jersey (13 players), Virginia (4), Pennsylvania (3), New York (2), California (1), Arizona (1), North Carolina (1), Canada (1), New Zealand (1), Portugal (1), and Germany (1) - compared to seven in 2022.

81.8: The percentage of offense (18 of 22 goals) returning to the Highlander lineup from last year, including team leading scorers Bailey Chant (3 G, 1 A) and Briana Andreoli (3 G). Three-fourths of NJIT's ability to set up those scoring chances (8 of 12 assists) is back as well, paced by team leader Aleesha Deshmukh (3 A).

6: NJIT's school record for ties in a season from last year. The previous record was three, done in 2005, 2012, 2016 and 2019.

1: One new coach joined the Highlander staff since the end of last season (Jordan Nash came aboard in March after most recently working at Monmouth) and the first former Highlander to play under Coach Nick signed a professional contract (Angela Harris committed to play for Greek side Panathinaikos earlier this month).

2023 STATS LEADERS
Goals: Gabby Zalot - 2
Assists: Gabby Zalot - 2
Points: Gabby Zalot - 6
Shots: Riley Jones/Aleesha Deshmukh/Bailey Chant - 5
SOG: Aleesha Deshmukh/Bailey Chant - 3
Saves: Mojisola Ayodele - 2
GAA: Ayodele/Samantha Constantine - 0.00

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT | CBU | UCR
Cal Baptist
CBU enters Thursday's game unbeaten in their one previous game - a 4-1 road victory over common opponent UC Riverside on August 17.The Lancers were led by Frida Murrieta's brace and three points from Natalia Castro (1 G, 1 A).

UC Riverside
As of Wednesday, UCR is 0-1-1 after the CBU contest and a scoreless draw at San Diego on August 19. UCR's score in the opening match came off the foot of Sarah Mahfoud in the 22nd minute.

NEXT UP
After NJIT faces CBU and UCR, the team will return East and play one more road game against LIU on August 31 at 1 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.