Women's Soccer Clinches America East Tourney Berth With Win At Vermont

The NJIT women's soccer team clinched a spot in its third consecutive America East Tournament with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Vermont Catamounts Sunday afternoon at Virtue Field.

The Highlanders (7-5-5, 3-3-1 AE) also secured their first regular season winning record since 2017 (9-8) with its second straight series victory over Vermont (8-6-1, 2-4-1 AE).

The game turned into a literal back-and-forth affair, with NJIT striking first and, most importantly, last in the five-goal affair. NJIT opened the scoring in the 27th minute off a throw-in that saw Kelsey Ramos send a left side low pass from the top of the 18 yard box and Briana Andreoli put it home on a tight angle on the right.

Andreoli's score was the only one of the first half but the Catamounts would open the second half scoring and tie the score in the 48th minute from just inside the line of the 18 yard box.

NJIT would trail for all of 70 seconds.

Andreoli would score again in the 49th minute, taking a right side service from Corbin Reifschneider and putting a shot on goal that was initially blocked by Vermont's goalkeeper. The ensuing deflection was gathered by Andreoli and put away to secure her first-ever collegiate brace.

Once again, Vermont would respond to the Highlanders' lead, equalizing in the 53rd minute on a lofting shot that sailed just over the outstretched hands of Samantha Constantine.

The game-winning goal in the 61st minute would come from the foot of the woman that set up the opening score. Vermont attempted to play out the back of their defensive half after an NJIT foul but the Highlanders were able to regain possession at midfield. A lofted through pass from Aleesha Deshmukh was chased down by Ramos, who tapped the winner past a driving Vermont keeper who was off her line up near the 18.

OTHER NOTES

• NJIT will end the regular season having not lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2018.
• The Highlanders have played in four matches this year where at least five goals were scored - NJIT is 3-1 in those matches.
• The last time the Highlanders played in at least three straight league tournaments, NJIT competed in four consecutive Great West Conference tourneys from 2009-12. Under head coach Ally Nick, NJIT has made back-to-back playoff appearances twice across two different leagues: 2018-19 in the ASUN and 2021-22 in the America East. The Highlanders were picked to finish sixth in this year's AE Preseason Poll, which would be the minimum to clinch the third berth at season's end.

NEXT UP
NJIT will complete the regular season Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. against top-seeded Binghamton before beginning its preparations for the America East Tournament. NJIT can finish anywhere from third to sixth, with third and fourth place hosting a quarterfinal matchup, and fifth and sixth heading on the road for the quarterfinals.