No. 5 NJIT Takes Down No. 4 Vermont in America East Quarterfinals

Published: Monday, November 6, 2023
Highlanders advance to third America East Conference Semifinal

Fifth-seeded NJIT scored a goal in each half to take down fourth-seeded Vermont, 2-1, in the 2023 America East Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Virtue Field.

VIDEO: Highlights

Saturday marks the second time the Highlanders have defeated No. 16 Vermont, a top-20 team in the nation, this season. NJIT defeated then-ranked No. 15 Vermont in Newark on October 7, 1-0, registering the first win over a top-15 team since 2015 for the men's soccer program.

"It's never easy to beat a team two times in a season, let alone a nationally ranked top-15 team like Vermont," added eighth-year head coach Fernando Barboto post game. 

NJIT advances to the America East semifinals on Wednesday, November 8, visiting No. 1 New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Kickoff is slated for 6pm. In the regular season, the Wildcats topped the Highlanders 2-1.

With the win, NJIT improves to 7-7-4 overall while the Catamounts move to 11-5-2 overall. 

The Highlander goal scorers in the win were: tri-captain Goncalo Franco (42') and sophomore Hugo Tavares (53'). Sophomore Maximus Barboto and junior Asembo Augo each registered an assist.

The nine assists for Barboto, who was named to the America East first team, sets a new single season mark in the NJIT Division I era.

Graduate student goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys combined for five saves in the victory and became the NJIT Division I career leader in matches (77), surpassing Rene White '21.

In the first seven minutes of action, Reisgys stopped a pair of Vermont shots (5th minute, diving to the right on a shot by Max Murray) and in the (7th minute making a save to his left on a shot by Niels Hartman).

NJIT opened the scoring in the 42nd minute off a late set piece on the first shot of the match for the Highlanders as Barboto served the ball into the box, finding a running Franco, heading home the first goal of the match for a 1-0 lead.

Franco netted his third goal of the season while Barboto tallied his conference leading ninth assist of the season.

Reisgys combined for three saves in the first 45 minutes with the Vermont Catamounts holding an 8-1 advantage in overall shots.

NJIT doubled its lead, 2-0, in the 53rd on a right-footed finish by Tavares past a diving Vermont goalkeeper Owen Jack. Augo tallied the assist on the cross to Tavares.

The Highlanders nearly went up 3-0 in the 68th minute on a blast from Jack Krongold whose shot went off the left post.

With NJIT leading 2-0, Vermont got on the board in the 78th minute on a goal by Yaniv Bazini assisted by Jake Ashford.

The Catamounts Bazini had two chances in the 85th and the 86th minute with both shots off frame and in the final seconds, Sydney Wathuta nearly scored the equalizer but his shot went just wide as the Highlanders held on for the 2-1 victory.