NEWARK, N.J. – For the first time in the Division I era, the NJIT men will make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament when the Highlanders visit Providence College in a first-round game at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium Thursday at 7 p.m.

The winner will advance and play at No. 15 Penn State (12-3-3) in University Park, Pa. Sunday.

The Highlanders (10-4-4) captured the ASUN Conference title, the first in that league while winning the regular-season crown as well with a 5-1-0. Providence enters the game with a 14-6 record.

NJIT features ASUN coach of the year Fernando Barboto, ASUN player of the year Rene White, goalkeeper of the year Samuel Reisgys and freshman of the year Alejandro Rabell along with first team all-conference selection Andrew Nino.

The Friars, who earned an at-large selection, will make their 10th appearance in the tournament.

The 48-team field and bracket for the tourney was announced Monday. Competition begins with the first round on Thursday. The top 16 teams in the field received byes and will compete in the second round Sunday.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.