NEWARK, NJ–NJIT men's soccer head coach Fernando Barboto announced the addition of 15 newcomers to the 2024 men's soccer roster.
Barboto begins his ninth season at NJIT after guiding the 2023 Highlanders to its fourth straight America East Tournament appearance and third America East semifinals, finishing with an overall record of 7-8-4 overall record, 3-2-2 in the America East.
NJIT recorded two wins over nationally ranked Vermont last season – upset No. 15 Vermont (Oct. 7), the first time defeating a ranked team since 2015 and took down No. 14 Vermont, 2-1, for a second time in the same season in the 2023 #AEMSOC Quarterfinals.
The Highlanders were selected to finish fifth in the 2024 Preseason America East Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.
Here is the closer look at the Highlander newcomers.
Devin Armstrong, Goalkeeper, Junior, Palm Harbor, FL Berkeley Preparatory School, Akron/Wake Forest
Transfer from Wake Forest (2022-20223) and Akron (January 2024). ... 2022-23 ACC Academic Honor Roll. ...2022-23 Wake Forest Men's Soccer Most Improved Player. ...At Wake Forest: Appeared in three matches during the season, registering 32 minutes of action without conceding a goal and recording two combined shutouts … made his collegiate debut in a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12 … logged his first ACC minutes in a 3-0 victory at NC State on Oct. 6 … played a season-high 24 minutes in a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris.after red-shirting his freshman campaign in 2022.. High School: Attended Berkeley Preparatory School. ... rated as a three-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com, he gained valuable playing experience with the Developmental Academy with Tampa Bay United before playing two seasons in MLS Next with Tampa Bay United. ... led Tampa Bay United's MLS Next u19 to National Semifinal in 2022.
Grayson Parks, Sophomore, Midfielder, Island Heights, NJ, Central Regional, Loyola (MD)
Transfer from Loyola University. ... At Loyola (2023): Appeared in 13 matches. ... scored first collegiate goal at Colgate (9.23.23). ... High School: Attended Central Regional. ... played club soccer for PDA North MLS Next and Real Jersey FC MLS Next... named to the Region I First Team... Scored the Goal of the Day during the MLS Next Playoffs... ranked 13th in Top Drawer Soccer's Regional Rankings for New Jersey.
Eric Sadlocha, Freshman, Defender, Sayreville, NJ Sayreville War Memorial
Attended Sayreville War Memorial High School. ...All-State first team. ... voted by coaches #1 Player in the Division and #3 Player in the GMC. ... 4x State Cup Winner. ... 2022 USYS Regional Championship Winner. ... played for Cedar Stars Monmouth MLS NEXT.
Sokol Ymeraj, Grad Student, Midfielder, Fier, Albania Shekulli i Ri, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Transfer from University of Nebraska at Omaha. ... Nebraska at Omaha (2023): NCAA Tournament first round. ... Summit League Tournament Champions. ... started 16 matches. ... scored one goal and tallied three assists for five points. ... At St. Francis Brooklyn (2020-22): In three-year career at SFB, started 44 matches. ... scored six goals, nine assists for 21 points. ...High School: Attended Shekulli I Ri in Albania for high school where he was a member of the soccer team…Member of the Albania National Team (U15, U17, U19) and was a team captain.
Giovanni Massacesi, Grad Student, Midfielder, Turin, Italy
Played for Saluzzo Calcio.
Amit Magoz, Senior, Midfielder, Ramat Hasharon, Israel Rothberg, Stony Brook
Transfer from Stony Brook (2022, 2023). ... 2023: Played in and started in 16 matches… 1x CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4)... Totaled five points (two goals, one assist)… Scored first goal of the season against Iona... Tallied first goal of the match, adding an assist in eventual 4-0 victory over Elon... Logged 1134 minutes of action...2022: Made 14 appearances, 12 starts in first season… scored one goal and had three assists… made debut at LIU on August 25th… Scored first career goal in 73rd minute vs. Hofstra on September 3rd, first CAA win in program history… got the start in 2-1 road win at Columbia on September 6th… made first start in conference play with 90 minutes of action vs. William & Mary on September 17th… had two assists vs. Yale on September 20th… picked up his third assist of the year at Delaware on October 15th… registered a season-high 3 shots at Temple on October 18th… had two shots in regular season finale win vs. Drexel on October 29th ... 2022 CAA Fall Commissioner's Honor Roll. ... High School: Attended Rothber. ... three-year captain ... four years at the Israeli 2nd Division.
Raz Amir, Grad Student, Forward, Holon, Israel Kugel, Fairfield
Transfer from Fairfield. ... At Fairfield (2023): One of the Stags' top offensive threats, contributing with one goal and three assists. He set up the team's first goal of the season which came in a 3-1 setback against FDU. His next point was an assist versus LIU before he scored in his final two appearances with the Stags. He posted the team's first goal in a 2-1 win over Saint Peter's and an assist in the 2-0 decision with Quinnipiac. He was active up front all season long as his 26 shots taken were third best among the team as were his 13 shots on goal. ... At Seton Hall: 2021: Big East All-Academic Team. .. played in thirteen matches starting two of them... Picked up eight points (two goals, four assists) across 499 minutes on the pitch... Picked up an assist in the win over Delaware (8/30)... Added a helper to draw against No. 10 Virginia Tech (9/6)... Netted the opening goal against NJIT (9/10)... Tallied for the second consecutive game when he found the back of the net against Army (9/14)... Had a point in three straight games with an assist against Providence (9/18)... Added an assist against No. 1 Georgetown (10/6). ... 2020-21: Played in fifteen matches starting one of them... Logged 481 minutes with three points (1 goal, 1 assist) on seven of his 17 shots on net... Picked up his first point as a Pirate with an assist in the season opener at NJIT (2/17)... Scored the game-winning goal in OT in the Pirates come-from-behind win at St. John's (3/17)... Part of the 2020 BIG EAST Championship team.
Vittorio Vopicelli, Midfielder, Junior, Torino, Italy Lycee, Francais Jean Giono, Birmingham Southern College
Transfer from Birmingham Southern College. ... 2023: All-SAA Honorable Mention selection... appeared in 15 games, starting all of them... logged 1257 minutes with three goals and three assist... recorded the 3rd most shots per game with 2.67. ...2022: Southern Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll selection... appeared in 18 games for the Panthers with 6 starts... recorded 11 shots on goal on 24 shots... played 836 minutes on the season... was part of first SAA Tournament Championship and National Tournament team in program history in DIII. ... High School: Attended ycee Francais Jean Giono.
Guy Panzner, Junior, Defender, Spring Hill, FL Bishop McLaughlin Catholic, Temple
Transfer from Temple. ... 2023: Played in two matches, starting one, missing most of the season due to injury... played 57 total minutes vs. Saint Joe's (9/5) and St. John's (9/11). ...2022: Played in five games, making one start and appearing in 215 minutes…One shot vs Charlotte (11/2). ...High School: Attended Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School…played club for Clearwater Chargers MLS Next. …helped lead Chargers to the MLS Next 2022 playoffs.
Nathaniel Jast, Freshman, Midfielder, Stockholm, Sweden Norra Real, Roslagsgatan 1
Attended Norra Real, Roslagsgatan 1 and played club for Viggbyholms IK FF.
Khaled Daoud, Freshman, Forward, Brooklyn, NY Fort Hamilton
Attended Hamilton High School. ... played club for NYCFC.
Luan Lazoja, Freshman, Midfielder, Old Bridge, NJ, Old Bridge
Attended Old Bridge High School in Matawan, NJ. ... played for Viareggio Cup in Italy and Capelli Sport Club in Denmark. ... US u14 National Team ID Camp. ... team-captain for six years for the Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth.
Stefan Lichtenheim, Freshman, Midfielder, Mahwah, NJ Don Bosco Prep
Attended Don Bosco Preparatory in Ramsey, NJ. ... played for TSF Academy.
Sebastian Ibanez, Sophomore, Goalkeeper, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Montverde Academy, Lincoln Memorial
Transfer from Lincoln Memorial. ... LMU advanced to the 2023 NCAA Super Region 2 and finished the season with an 11-5-3 overall mark. ... named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. ... High School: Attended Montverde Academy. ... played for Bravo SC. ... won the Florida Cup in 2022.
Evan Chomow, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Green Township, NJ Blair Academy
Attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. ... played for TSF Academy MLS NEXT u19.
NJIT will kick off the season at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium hosting Loyola (MD) on August 22. The match is part of a doubleheader with the NJIT women who will host Marist.
