| Game 2 | Home Game 1 |
vs Siena (0-0) |
| Date | Time |
Saturday, February 10 | 1:00 pm |
| Location | Arena |
Newark, N.J. | Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium |
| Live Video |
AmericaEast.tv |
| Live Stats |
In-Game Statistics |
| All-Time Series |
Siena leads 3-0 |
| NJIT Info |
2024 Stats |
| Opponent Info |
2023 Stats |
NEWARK, N.J. — The NJIT men's lacrosse team will look to open a season 2-0 for the first time in program history as the Highlanders welcome the Siena Saints to Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium for NJIT's 2024 home opener.
LAST TIME OUT
NJIT began 2024 on a positive note, rallying from an early three goal deficit and holding St. John's for a 10-8 season opening road victory on February 3. The win gave the Highlanders (1-0) their second-ever season-opening win, first season premiere win on the road, and first triumph in an opener since defeating Hampton 24-7 during the shortened 2020 campaign (2/1/2020). NJIT's win over St. John's (0-1) also marks the first time in three tries that the Highlanders have beaten a Big East opponent (previously 0-2 against Georgetown).
Arthur Miller had a career game, scoring a career-high five goals to lead NJIT to victory. Miller was joined on the multi-goal front by Jack Bowie (2 G) while Ryan Sininsky, Owen Corry,and Jesse Roth each added goals. Garrett Muscatella was able to record multiple points by way of a pair of assists, with Roth and Owen Mercado contributing NJIT's other helpers.
Liam Brown was his usual solid self in goal, making 20 saves in the win while playing all 60 minutes. Without fellow faceoff specialist Isaac Vanzomeren, Billy Kroeger excelled at midfield, finishing 14-21 on faceoffs and adding eight ground balls to his tally. Miller, Brown and Teddy Grimley accounted for the Highlanders' three caused turnovers.
MILLER'S CAREER DAY
Arthur Miller's career-high output marks his third-ever game with at least three goals and his first since netting three against Mount St. Mary's on February 18 of last season. Miller's performance was also the first five-goal outing by a Highlander since Owen Corry's five goal showing at UMass Lowell on March 27, 2021.
STEADY AS ALWAYS
Liam Brown's play continues to be a constant area of strength for the Highlanders. With 20 saves against St. John's, Brown has now made double digit saves in his last 14 games and stopped 20 or more six times in his career. The last time Brown had 20 saves - the 2023 season opener at Siena.
With 570 career saves, Brown is also closing in on the school record for career saves, currently held by former Highlander Nick Marzullo (579 from 2015-18).
WEEKLY HONORS
Because of their spectacular season openers,
Miller and Brown were respectively named America East Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week by the conference on February 5. NJIT's all-time total of America East weekly accolades now sits at five (3 Offensive, 1 Defensive, 1 Rookie) since joining the America East in July 2020.
- Arthur Miller: Offensive Player of the Week (February 5, 2024)
- Liam Brown: Defensive Player of the Week (February 5, 2024)
- Garrett Muscatella: Offensive Player of the Week (March 13, 2023)
- Gage Adams: Rookie of the Week (February 14, 2022)
- Owen Corry: Offensive Player of the Week (March 29, 2021)
In addition to the America East honors,
Brown and grad defender Hank Bethel were named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Team of the Week on February 6. NJIT has now placed four Hihglanders all-time on the USILA Team of the week.
ELEVENTH WIN, TENTH SEASON
The St. John's win was NJIT's 11th in program history:
- Feb. 3, 2024: 10-8 at St. John's
- Apr. 29, 2023: 11-10 (OT) at UMass Lowell
- Mar. 11, 2023: 14-13 vs Lindenwood
- Mar. 4, 2023: 10-8 vs Wagner
- Mar. 27, 2021: 14-10 at UMass Lowell
- Feb. 1. 2020: 24-7 vs Hampton
- Apr. 6, 2019: 26-9 at Hampton
- Mar. 5, 2019: 8-5 vs Monmouth
- Apr. 14, 2018: 15-8 vs Hampton
- Apr. 15, 2017: 17-3 at Hampton
- Mar. 22, 2016: 10-7 at Dartmouth
WINS BREAKDOWN
- 5 at home, 6 on the road
- 1 overtime win
- Last 4 have been within two goals
- Average GS-GA in wins: 14.4 - 8.0021
2024 STATS LEADERS
TOP RETURNERS (2023 TOTALS)
2024 SCHEDULE
This season will be made up of a 14-game slate: eight home and six road games; seven non-conference and seven America East league matchups.
NJIT will open play on the road on Saturday, February 3 against St. John's, marking the first time the Highlanders have faced off against a member of the Big East since hosting Georgetown on April 20, 2019.
The 2024 home opener for the Highlanders will come the following week (February 10) against Siena. Another road matchup at Mount St. Mary's on February 17 will precede NJIT's lone two-game week at home - a Wednesday night meeting against Monmouth on February 21 and a Saturday matinee against Manhattan on February 24.
March begins with the first of NJIT's final two non-conference games, a road trip to Staten Island to face Wagner on March 2. The non-conference finale will pit NJIT against Lindenwood on March 9. NJIT won a last second thriller against the Lions in their first-ever meeting last season.
NJIT opens America East play away from Newark with a trip to last year's regular season champion Vermont on March 16. The Highlanders will welcome Binghamton to Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium for the conference home opener the next week (March 23) before another road contest against defending tournament champion Bryant on March 30.
The final two-game homestand for the Highlanders will see them take on Merrimack (April 6) and UAlbany (April 13). NJIT will close out the regular season at UMBC on April 20 and at home against UMass Lowell on April 27.
NJIT will be looking for its first-ever America East tournament berth in 2024. The four-team playoff will take place on the campus of the No. 1 seed on May 2 and May 4.
AE PRESEASON POLL
In this year's America East Preseason Poll, the Highlanders were slated by the league's coaches to finish tied for sixth with Merrimack - an improvement from being chosen last in the 2023 poll. Bryant, last year's tournament champion, was voted as the regular season favorite.
1. Bryant 47 (5)
2. Vermont 39 (1)
3. UAlbany 38 (2)
4. Binghamton 33
5. UMBC 28
T6. NJIT 16
T6. Merrimack 16
8. UMass Lowell 7
2023 HIGHLIGHTS
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Siena will be playing its first game of the season on Saturday against NJIT. The Saints went 9-7 (5-4 MAAC) in 2023 and reached the MAAC Championship game as a No. 4 seed before losing to No. 3 Marist. Their record included a narrow 12-11 home win over NJIT in the season opener for both teams.
Siena holds a 3-0 advantage in the team's all-time series.
NEXT UP
NJIT will head back on the road next Saturday (February 17) for a matchup against Mount St. Mary's. Start time is scheduled for 11 a.m.
