No. 6 NJIT Upsets No. 3 UAlbany in America East Quarterfinals, Rabell and Franco Net Goals

Published: Saturday, November 6, 2021

NJIT Highlights at UAlbany

Tournament Bracket

Sixth-seeded NJIT upset No. 3 UAlbany, 2-1, in the 2021 America East Conference Quarterfinals men's soccer match Saturday evening at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium.

With the win, No. 6 NJIT (6-11-1) will advance and face No. 2 Vermont (11-4-2) in the America East Conference semifinals on Wednesday, November 10 at 6pm in Burlington, VT.  The match will be streamed on America East TV.

The match vs. Vermont will be a rematch for the Highlanders, who fell 1-0 in the semifinals of the America East Tournament last season.  The Catamounts came out on top against the Highlanders 1-0 in regular season match this season in Newark, 1-0, on October 9, scoring the lone goal in the fourth minute.

"We got a lot right tonight, most importantly, we got the win" sixth-year head coach Fernando Barboto added post game.  "Our team played very well both offensively and defensively.  We should of scored a third goal but in the end we maintained our tactical shape and discipline."

The Highlanders outshot the Great Danes, 14-to-7 behind four shots from Rabell and two shots from four different players.

Junior Highlander goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys picked up his second straight win of the season, stopping one Great Dane shot.

Rabell netted the first goal of the match on a right-footed strike, past a diving UAlbany's Carlos Tofern for a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.  The goal for Rabell was his third of the season.

A minute later, UAlbany, not wasting any time, tied the match at 1-1 on a penalty kick by Bjarki Leosson. The senior tucked away his first goal of the season, low and right of the post in the 44th minute.

At the half, NJIT held an early edge in total goals 9-6 (3-2 on goal), paced by Rabell with three total shots.

In the 55th and 56th minute, NJIT had three opportunities -- two coming from America East first team honoree Rene White and America East second team selectee Regsan Watkins.

NJIT regained the lead in the 58th minute on a header by America East All-Rookie team honoree Goncalo Franco who headed home his second goal of the season off a corner kick by Tomas Jorge.  The assist for Jorge is a team-leading seventh on the season.

The Highlanders nearly added a third goal in the 71st minute on a shot from Rabell, who scored the first goal of the match, but UAlbany keeper Tofern punched the ball out.

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