HACKENSACK, N.J. -  The No. 21 Fairleigh Dickinson University men's soccer team will look to push their perfect start in 2017 to 6-0 Saturday evening when they clash with the NJIT Highlanders at 3 p.m.  The game will be played at Kean University and can be watched via live stream. 

LAST MATCH 

The Knights improved to 5-0 in dramatic fashion last week against Iona, coming away with a win after Wojciech Piwowarczyk scored the game-deciding goal in the 85th minute to seal the 3-2 victory for the Knights.  Freshman goalkeeper Tiago Capela earned his third consecutive victory in net for the Knights, and has yet to lose a decision in his FDU career.  Jacob Labovitz scored a world-class goal just five minutes into the match to put the Knights ahead early before junior Fredinho Mompremier scored on an impressive sequence of his own to make it 2-0 just 15 minutes in.  Iona battled back, scoring goals in the 20th and 72nd minute to level before Piwowarczyk's late-game heroics iced things away for FDU.   

ALL-TIME SERIES 

The Knights are 7-4-2 all-time against the Highlanders, last meeting on opening day of 2016, a 1-0 NJIT win at University Stadium in Teaneck.  FDU's last victory over NJIT came on a September 11th, 2013 by a final of 1-0.  

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS 

NJIT is an impressive 5-1-1 in 2017, scoring decisive victories on the road against both Navy and LIU Brooklyn.  The Highlanders only blemishes on the year thus far are a 2-1 loss to Stoney Brook on September 13th and a 2-2 draw against Florida International that was called after the end of regulation due to inclement weather.  NJIT is led up front by senior striker Mamadou Guirassy, who leads the nation in goal scoring in 2017 with nine in seven appearances.  The Highlanders also boast experience at midfield with seniors Danny Corderio and Jack Flanagan holding things down.  Goalkeeper Victor Pujades has earned a clean sheet in all five of NJIT's victories so far this season.  

AROUND THE NEC 

The Knights remain atop the NEC standings as the only undefeated team still remaining at 5-0.  FDU ranks first in the NEC in goals per game (2.40), assists per game (2.20) and goals against per game (.80).  

KNIGHTS RANKED NATIONALLY

Last week's win over Iona was enough to bolster FDU into the Top-25 national rankings.  Following the win, the Knights were ranked 18th in the country in the Top Drawer Soccer National Poll, as well as 21st overall in the USCA National Coaches Poll.  It is the first time the Knights have featured in the national rankings since the end of the 2012 campaign that saw FDU ranked 20th overall at the end of the season. Jacob Labovitz was named NEC Freshman of the Week and Fredinho Mompremier was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week for the second consecutive week for their efforts in the win.