HILLSIDE, NJ—Redshirt sophomore Rene White scored his first career hat trick in NJIT’s come-from-behind overtime win over visiting Saint Francis U, 3-2, Wednesday afternoon in men’s soccer non-conference action at Kean University East Campus Facility.

NJIT is now one of only eight teams among NCAA Division I teams with a 4-0 record after Wednesday’s victory over the Red Flash.  This marks the best start for the Highlanders, since the 2017 season, when the Highlanders began the season, 5-0-1.

White, who did not play last season due to injury and combined for six goals during his freshman campaign, scored a goal in the first and second periods, including the golden goal in the first overtime, for the first-ever hat trick in the Division I era for the men’s soccer program (first season 2004).

White tallied his first goal in the 44^th minute, assisted by sophomore Pablo Jimenez, 89^th minute on a penalty kick and 99^th minute from inside the box, assisted by Hugo Espuela to seal the match.

The Highlander forward from Bloomfield, NJ, scored the golden goal at 98:52, after graduate student Jack Flanagan fed the ball to sophomore Hugo Espuela down the left wing.  Espuela carried the ball into the 18 and rolled a pass to the redshirt sophomore striker inside the box for the 3-2 victory.

With 1:06 left in regulation, NJIT’s White converted a penalty kick and finished to the left of the Saint Francis U keeper, after a called handball committed inside the box, dead locking the match at 2-2.

Saint Francis U (2-3-0) held a 2-0 lead through the first 43 minutes of action. 

Sophomore midfielder Kevin Smolyn scored the first goal of the match in the fifth minute, the first of his career, assisted by Mario Mastrangelo.  Mastrangelo, who posted 13 goals for the Red Flash in 2017, took the initial shot to begin the play, saved by NJIT’s Victor Pujades but the rebound went back to Smolyn as he tucked away his first goal of the season.

Mastrangelo tallied his third goal of the season at 36:47 unassisted for a 2-0 cushion.  The goal for the senior forward was his 30^th of his career.

The Highlanders got on the board in the 44^th minute on a beautiful long ball over the Red Flash defense by Jimenez to White, pulling within one of the Red Flash at halftime, 2-1.

NJIT outshot Saint Francis U 14-13 (8-2 in the second half) and held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks in the second half.

Highlander keeper Pujades combined for four saves while Red Flash goalkeeper Jonas Dieseler stopped two Highlander shots.

NJIT will return to action on Saturday when the Highlanders visit Drexel in Philadelphia.  Kickoff is slated for 6pm.