NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT men's soccer 2025 campaign will begin Thursday night in Baltimore when the Highlanders visit Loyola Maryland.

Game Information
Thursday's match is slated for 6pm at Lubetkin Field at Ridley Athletic Complex. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on LoyolaGreyhounds.com.

All-Time Series
Thursday will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools. The series stands at 1-1-2.

8/22/24 | T, 1-1 (F) | Newark, NJ
9/5/23 | T, 1-1 (F) | Baltimore, MD
10/5/21 | NJIT 2, Loyola 1 (F) | Newark, NJ
10/15/19 | Loyola 4, NJIT 1 (F) | Baltimore, MD

News & Notes
–Head coach Fernando Barboto begins his 10th season at NJIT after guiding the 2024 Highlanders to its fifth straight America East Tournament appearance.
–The Highlanders have welcomed 10 newcomers to the 2025 roster.
–America East All-Championship team selection Sergio Martinez Cubel returns as the Highlanders top goal scorer. Three out of four goals in 2024 came on penalty kicks, all three being successful. 
–Devin Armstrong, the Highlander keeper, played and started in 17 matches last season after transferring in from Wake Forest (2022-23) and Akron (January 2024), combining for a 6-7-4 overall mark, 60 saves, a 1.51 goals against average and a pair of shutouts.  He posted a personal-best nine saves at Vermont.  Armstrong ranked fourth in the league in saves per game (3.53).
–Alvaro Heredia combined for a pair of goals and assists for six points.
–Grayson Parks spent the 2023 season at Loyola, appearing in 13 matches and netting his first collegiate goal against Colgate (9.23.23).  He debuted in a Highlander uniform in 2024.
––NJIT was voted to finish fifth in the 2025 America East Preseason Coaches Poll.

Scouting Loyola (MD)
–Loyola finished the 2024 season with a 4-7-6 overall mark, 3-3-3 in the Patriot League.
–The 2025 recruiting class features 12 newcomers.
–The Greyhounds were selected to finish fourth in the Patriot League's Preseason Coaches Poll.
–Jordy Luches was named to the Preseason All-League team.  a two-time First Team All-League honoree and 2024 Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year, enters his final season with the Greyhounds, having played in 59 career games, starting in 57 of them. Luchies has recorded five goals and seven assists for the Greyhounds during his time and was a member of the 2021 Patriot League Championship team that reached the NCAA Tournament. 

Next Up
NJIT will make a short trip to FDU for a Garden State match-up on Sunday at 12Noon inside University Stadium in Teaneck, NJ.

Stay Connected
Stay up to date with the latest news and scores on X/Twitter and Instagram (@NJITSoccer) and liking NJIT Men's Soccer on Facebook.