NEWARK, N.J. – Rene White scored twice, powering NJIT (2-3-1, 2-2-0 AE) to a 4-2 win over Binghamton (2-2-0, 2-2-0 AE) in an America East men's soccer match on Tuesday afternoon at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. The game marked the Bearcats' second of three conference contests in an eight-day stretch.

White was one of three Highlanders to record at least three points in the match. Tomas Jorge and Regsan Watkins each finished with a goal and an assist.

It was Binghamton, however, that struck first. Senior midfielder Noah Luescher converted a free kick from outside the box in the 10th minute of play.

For Luescher, it was his conference-best fifth goal of the season. He also becomes the first Bearcat to score in four consecutive games since Jake Keegan did so to start off the 2012 season.

NJIT responded with two goals in a 65 second span to go up 2-1 in the 23rd minute. Jorge and White had the Highlander goals. In the 37th minute, it was Watkins' turn to find the back of the net, padding the lead to 3-1.

Binghamton took the momentum back right before the half when it was awarded a penalty kick. Sophomore midfielder Sean Molloy converted the attempt with just 22 seconds remaining, slicing the deficit to 3-2.

Molloy is the first Bearcat player to make a penalty kick since Ben Ovetsky against Albany on Nov. 2, 2016. It also marked the first goal of Molloy's collegiate career.

In the 49th minute, Molloy came close to tying the game but his shot hit the post. The Bearcats also took a pair of shots in the final seven minutes of regulation but could not tie the score.

NJIT then sealed the match in the 89th minute on White's final goal of the afternoon.

"We had moments when we were good today but this was a below average performance by our guys," head coach Paul Marco said. "We didn't start the match well and NJIT is a very good team. We started the second half better and created some good chances. But overall, we are disappointed in our performance."

NJIT held a 20-8 shot advantage, including an 11-3 margin in the second half.

Sophomore goalkeeper P.J. Parker made six saves for the Bearcats.

The match marked the first-ever meeting between Binghamton and NJIT in men's soccer. The Highlanders joined the America East Conference last summer but had won the 2019 Atlantic Sun men's soccer title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. 

Binghamton's busy week of games concludes on Friday at Albany at 2 p.m.

NOTES: Binghamton continues to average an even 2.00 goals per game … Luescher is now averaging 1.25 goals and 2.50 points per game. He entered the game leading the conference in both statistical categories.