BALTIMORE – America East newcomer NJIT scored a pair of second half goals and edged UMBC, 2-1, in a high-energy match played at Retriever Soccer Park.

The Highlanders, who won the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2019, won in their America East debut and improved to 1-0-1 overall. A very young UMBC side fell to 1-1-1, 0-1-1.

UMBC reserve midfielder Kyle Waggoner (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) scored his first collegiate in the 40' to give the Retrievers a 1-0 halftime lead. Waggoner knocked home a rebound of junior Vagner Marquez' (Frederick, Md./Frederick CC) shot after a pair of headers got Marquez open in the box.

But NJIT snapped a UMBC streak of 260 scoreless minutes and equalized in the 54'. The Retrievers were called for a hand ball in the box and the Highlanders were awarded a penalty kick. UMBC junior netminder Quantrell Jones (Baltimore, Md./Kenwood) stopped Tomas Jorge's attempt, but the rebound fell right back to Jorge, who knocked in the loose change.

The Retrievers had three sterling chances in a five-minute span but could not capitalize. Freshman midfielder William Forby (Vegle, Denmark) hit the underside of the crossbar with a 20-yard drive in the 68' and NJIT goalkeeper Samuel Reisgys made a diving save of Julian Conze's (Telgte, Germany) direct kick a minute later.

Waggoner nearly recorded his second goal, but his shot from the right side in the 72' went sliding by the far post.

But the Highlanders got the game-winner in the 76' as Regsan Watkins headed in a Jose Escandon cross.

UMBC outshot NJIT, 18-13, and forced Reisgys to make eight saves. Jones stopped two NJIT shots on goal. The Retrievers also attempted nine corners to three for the visitors.

UMBC plays its third America East contest in eight days on Friday, when they welcome UAlbany for a 4:00 p.m. contest.