TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson men's soccer team starts a two-game home stand Tuesday night when it takes on local rival NJIT at 7 p.m., at University Stadium.
 
The game will be streamed live for free on NEC Front Row, and live stats for the game will also be available at fduknights.com.
 
ENTERING THE KNIGHT
The Knights (3-2) were edged by Cornell, 1-0, in a battle of two regionally ranked teams in the Northeast. The second-ranked Knights faced an early deficit after third-ranked Cornell scored in the fourth minute of play, but junior Jahmali Waite stepped up to make 14 saves, setting a career high, to keep the Knights within a goal. FDU, however, missed on an early opportunity from Daniel Lasarte and could not convert on attacking chances in the second half.
 
KNIGHT NOTABLES
As of Monday, the Knights enter the matchup second in the Northeast regional rankings. FDU received one vote in the United Soccer Coaches National Top 25 poll released on September 10. Junior Diego Arribas is tied for the Northeast Conference lead with three goals and seven points through five matches. Lasarte leads the team with two assists. Waite is the NEC leader with 27 saves in five matches, and his .844 save percentage ranks second among league goalkeepers. Waite has allowed only one goal per match this season, good for second in the conference among goalkeepers with at least 300 minutes played.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FDU leads the all-time series against NJIT with a 7-4-3 record against the nearby New Jersey rival. The two teams finished in a 1-1 draw in their last meeting in Newark back in 2017. The Highlanders won 1-0 the last time the two teams played at University Stadium in 2016. Since 2008, the Knights have won five of seven matchups with NJIT.
 
SCOUTING NJIT
The Highlanders (2-0-3) have finished in a tie in each of their previous two games, most recently earning a 2-2 draw at Radford on Saturday. NJIT started the season with road wins at Sacred Heart (7-0) and VCU (1-0 in OT) and have also tied against Fordham (2-2) and Drexel (1-1) at home. Redshirt junior Rene White leads the team with six goals and 13 points through five matches, and freshman goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys has allowed five goals and made 27 saves in five matches. NJIT is currently second in the Atlantic regional rankings and was picked seventh in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll after finishing 6-11 last season.
 
UP NEXT
The Knights continue their homestand on Saturday, September 21, when they host Ivy League foe Princeton at 7 p.m., at University Stadium.