Men's Lacrosse Wins Season Finale Over UMass Lowell, 12-4
The greatest season in the history of the NJIT men's lacrosse program ended on a resounding high note.
The Highlanders (8-6, 1-6 AE) secured the first winning season in program history with a 12-4 victory over the UMass Lowell Riverhawks (0-12, 0-7 AE) Saturday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.
Nine players contributed goals, led by Jack Bowie's hat trick and four-point outing. Garrett Muscatella added a pair of goals and closed the year as NJIT's leader in goals (29), assists (16) and total points (45).
Three other Highlanders produced multiple points (Ryan Sininsky goal and Owen Corry assist, Benjamin Roberts two assists) while Teddy Grimley, Logan Hone, Adyn Cover, Myles Hickey, and Billy Kroeger each scored once and Arthur Miller, Jack Mahony, and Michael Rettberg each recorded assists.
Kroeger also won the faceoff battle (12-for-19) and led NJIT with five ground balls while Grimley logged a career-high four caused turnovers.
Liam Brown ended his illustrious career with a 14-save performance and ending his time at NJIT with 185 saves this year and 735 over five years.
NJIT went wire-to-wire for the win, scoring the first two goals of the game and posting identical 2-1 periods in the first and second to take a 4-2 lead into halftime. The offense exploded for six goals in the third quarter (6-2) to hold a 10-4 advantage heading into the fourth and the defense pitched a shutout over the last 18-plus minutes of game time while adding two more scores in the fourth.
OTHER NOTES
- The four goals allowed Saturday were the second-fewest in an NJIT victory all-time, one behind the three goals conceded in wins against Hampton on April 15, 2017 (17-3) and Lindenwood on March 9 (18-3).
- While UMass Lowell now holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series with NJIT, the Highlanders are now 3-1 over the Riverhawks as America East opponents.
- Today was the second time this season that at least nine different players scored in a game. The Lindenwood win saw the most unique goal scorers with ten.
- Muscatella's 45 points were the most by a Highlander since Aaron Forster's 53 (36 G, 17 A) in 2019.
SENIOR DAY
- On Friday, the team continued its new tradition under head coach Eric Wolf and held its second Senior Day reception with the coaches, family, friends and support staff. The 19 Highlanders that were recognized were: Logan Hone, Nick O'Melia, Jack Mahony, Liam Brown, Beck Gozdenovich, Isaac Vanzomeren, Jack Bowie, Arthur Miller, Garrett Muscatella, Keegan and Devon Ford, Owen Corry, Myles Hickey, Teddy Grimley, Billy Kroeger, Josh Failla, Brandon Wasitowski, Hank Bethel and Jesse Roth.