Men's Lacrosse Earns First Win Of The Season With 10-8 Comeback Against Wagner

Published: Saturday, March 4, 2023

All the hard work and sacrifice was finally rewarded in the win column.

Led by a four-point performance from Jack Bowie and standout efforts by the defensive and faceoff units, the NJIT men's lacrosse team picked up its first win of the season and first of the Eric Wolf era in a 10-8 victory over the Wagner Seahawks Saturday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

HIGHLIGHTS

1ST QUARTER

  • The first quarter was a microcosm of the entire game - a defensive matchup with timely goals being the difference. The 18 total goals in the game were the fewest in an NJIT contest this year and the first 15 minutes only saw two of them, both scored by Wagner on unassisted shots.

2ND QUARTER

  • Both offenses started to ramp up in the second as five goals were scored between the two teams. NJIT would put their first score on the board with 10:00 on the clock as Willson found Bowie flashing in front of goal for a catch, turn and score to make the score 2-1.
  • Two more Seahawk goals would push Wagner ahead 4-1 before Bowie switched roles and set up Devon Ford for his first career goal to make the score, 4-2.
  • An out of timeout goal by Wagner with eight seconds remaining in the half sent the Highlanders to the locker room facing a 5-2 deficit. 

3RD QUARTER

  • NJIT reversed the outcome from the second quarter in the third, outscoring Wagner 3-2 after the Seahawks' 3-2 quarter to go into the fourth quarter only down two, 7-5.
  • Both teams traded punches, with Bowie hitting first (11:33, 5-3), Muscatella going solo on an impressive scoop goal (4:55, 6-4), and Grimley capping off a great transition run with the long pole goal (1:20, 7-5).

4TH QUARTER

  • NJIT saved its best efforts for last, producing its best quarter stretch of the season. The Highlanders' five goals were tied for the team's most in a period this year (5 in 3rd quarter at Monmouth on February 21) and the +4 margin was its best of the season. 
  • The Highlanders scored three straight goals in just over three minutes: a hat-trick clinching man-up goal by Bowie from Hone (13:53), a solo shot from Wasitowski (13:14), and a Mercado to Willson connection with 10:10 to go that gave NJIT its first lead of the game, 8-7.
  • Wagner would tie the game again at 8-8 with 9:23 to go but Wasitowski would score the eventual game winner unassisted with 6:37 remaining and Corry would ice the game with his late goal.

OTHER NOTES

  • Saturday's win was the program's first-ever victory when trailing after three quarters of play. 
  • Bowie's three-goal showing was the fourth of his career and first since he registered a hat trick last year against Binghamton on April 19, 2022. His last game with at least four points was his career best, a five-point effort (3 G, 2 A) at Binghamton on April 3, 2021.
  • NJIT has had a different player score at least three goals in all five games this year: Bowie, Muscatella (Feb. 25), Corry (Feb. 21), Arthur Miller (Feb. 18) and Willson (Feb. 11) 
  • Owen Corry's goal in the final seconds of the game pushed his current point scoring streak to 15 games and his goal scoring run to eight games. 
  • Isaac Vanzomeren's seven ground balls were only two off his career high of nine from his game at UAlbany on April 24, 2021 and his 11 faceoff wins marked the seventh time he has won 10+ faceoffs in a game (the other six instances came during his freshman year in 2021). 
  • Grimley and Devon Ford's goals, along with Schreibeis and Mercado's assists, were the firsts of their careers.
  • Saturday's victory snapped the program's 22-game losing streak, giving the Highlanders their first win since March 27, 2021 (14-10 at UMass Lowell).


NEXT UP
NJIT will take on first-time opponent Lindenwood on Saturday, March 11 at Noon in Newark, looking for its first-ever two-game winning streak.