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The NJIT Highlanders are the 4th team in our 2020 men’s college lacrosse schedule preview series and the first team from the NEC. The Highlanders finished 2-13 overall in 2019, which was their final season as an independent. NJIT officially joined the Northeast Conference as an associate member in men’s lacrosse over the summer.
Here’s their entire 2020 schedule:
NJIT’s 2020 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes |
| 1/19 | Molloy (D2) | NJIT | Scrimmage |
| 1/25 | NJIT | New York Tech (D2) | Scrimmage |
| 2/1 | Hampton | NJIT | |
| 2/8 | NJIT | Monmouth | |
| 2/15 | NJIT | Delaware | |
| 2/17 | NJIT | Army West Point | |
| 2/22 | Lehigh | NJIT | |
| 2/29 | Siena | NJIT | |
| 3/7 | Manhattan | NJIT | |
| 3/14 | LIU | NJIT | NEC, First ever meeting |
| 3/21 | NJIT | Robert Morris | NEC, First ever meeting |
| 3/28 | NJIT | Wagner | NEC |
| 4/4 | Merrimack | NJIT | NEC, First ever meeting |
| 4/11 | NJIT | Mount St. Mary's | NEC, First ever meeting |
| 4/18 | Saint Joseph's | NJIT | NEC |
| 4/25 | NJIT | Bryant | NEC, First ever meeting |
Who’s In?
- LIU Sharks (3/14)
- Robert Morris Colonials (3/21)
- Merrimack Warriors (4/4)
- Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (4/11)
- Bryant Bulldogs (4/25)
Who’s Out?
- Lafayette Leopards (14-10 L)
- VMI Keydets (15-8 L)
- Quinnipiac Bobcats (16-14 L)
- UMass Minutemen (19-7 L)
- Fairfield Stags (18-5 L)
- Georgetown Hoyas (23-7 L)
NJIT’s Opponent’s 2019 Average Win Percentage & RPI
| Avg. overall win pct. | Avg. nonconference win pct. | Avg. conference win pct. | Avg. overall RPI | Avg. nonconference RPI | Avg. conference RPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. overall win pct. | Avg. nonconference win pct. | Avg. conference win pct. | Avg. overall RPI | Avg. nonconference RPI | Avg. conference RPI |
| .512 | .527 | .498 | 48.25 | 48.14 | 48.4 |
Circle These Dates
- 2/1 vs. Hampton: Two teams looking to start new eras in their respective histories. For Hampton, the team will being the Rashad Devoe era, one that hopes to bring the program into national relevance. NJIT opens up play at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, their new on-campus stadium a few years in the making. That will be their first home game on their campus since their inaugural season in 2015.
- 2/8 at Monmouth: NJIT has defeated three teams in their five seasons. Monmouth was the third when the Highlanders earned an 8-5 win last year. It was a down year for the Hawks, but it was a glimpse that NJIT can be a tough opponent down the road.
- 2/29 vs. Siena: One of the more high-scoring contests of the entire season, the Saints led the majority of the game and were just one or two more steps ahead of the Highlanders. 38 total goals will be tough to beat, but in the shot clock era, anything is possible.
- 3/14 vs. LIU: The first NEC men’s lacrosse game in the history of not only NJIT, but also LIU. We also get our first look at how the NEC conference schedules will go. Each team will play seven conference opponents (the four in their division as well as three others).
- 3/28 at Wagner: Surprisingly Wagner and NJIT are not in the same division. But even though they’re not in the same division doesn’t mean the two are able to play each other every season and make a good NJ/NY rivalry.