9/20/21

The Lackawanna Falcons Esports Rocket League team dropped both their matches on Monday night.

NACE Rocket League vs. Rowan
The Rowan Profs swept the Falcons 3-0 (3-1, 6-0, 4-3) in the first match-up of the evening.

In the first game of the match, Lackawanna and Rowan felt each other out for the first 90 seconds, before the Falcons found the opener. Juan Garcia (Gamertag: Jaepster) centered a pass from the corner that found Keenan Lewis (Gamertag: Fesbot) who nosed it towards goal and found the left corner to give Lackawanna College the early advantage. From there, the Profs would find their footing, scoring the equalizer on a shot from distance with under two minutes to play. The game winner would come at the 1:07 mark from a ball that spilled to the middle where the Profs pounced on it. They'd add a third goal to round out the first game.

The second game was forgettable for the Falcons, as the Profs hit the front early and never were truly threatened. The Falcons had some spectacular saves from Caden Delaney (Gamertag: Bozi), but the Rowan pressure would eventually become too much, as the Profs' possession and precision passing got them four goals in the last 80 seconds to blow open what had been a tight second game.

The Falcons fought hard in the third game, but still trailed 3-0 with under two minutes to play. That's when Lackawanna College roared back, scoring three goals in 1:11 of gametime to tie things up at three-all with 0:34 seconds to play  Delaney had two goals and an assist to Lewis, who got a piece of the Delaney pass to deflect it in the goal. The talent of the Profs would show out in the last ten seconds, as a long pass with time expiring found a player who double-touched off the back-wall and angled the ball down into the net, giving Rowan the 4-3 game and match-winner as time expired. 

The Falcons finished the match with 14 shots, and four goals. Delaney had two goals and an assist, while Lewis added two goals and two assists across the three games. 



NJCAAE Rocket League vs. Wake Tech
In the second match of the evening, the Wake Tech Eagles were the opponent in the NJCAAE match-up.

The Falcons and the Eagles battled in three competitive games, but Wake Tech managed to sweep up 3-0 (3-1, 4-1, 2-1) and hand the Falcons their second loss of the evening.

The first game of the match saw Wake Tech and Lackawanna College battle back and forth until the Eagles scored first, just 30 seconds into the contest on swift counter attack after the Falcons were wasteful with possession. The Eagles would add their second goal after a similar turnover after another 30 seconds, and the score was 2-0. Caden Delaney (Gamertag: Bozi) would get Lackawanna College on the board with a loose ball in front of net that he nosed home at 1:16 to go, but the Falcons wouldn't get any closer.

The second game started similarly, with both teams feeling each other out before Wake broke the deadlock, just over 90 seconds into the game, on a flying shot from midfield that was deflected in off of a diving save attempt from Juan Garcia (Gamertag: Jaepster). The Falcons had their chances, but were wasteful in front of goal, missing shots wide, and even having unlucky strikes off the post. The Eagles would pounce on Lackawanna College's aggresive play, scoring goal number two on a deflected pass that left the Lackawanna net wide open with a minute to play, and then goal number three on a similar run to a wide open net with 52 seconds remaining, and then again just a few seconds after that. The Falcons would avoid the shutout with 26 seconds to play, thanks to a pass off the back wall from Garcia that found Delaney in front of goal.

The third game started with disaster from Lackawanna College, as a miscommunication at the back between two players allowed a deflected ball to be nudged home by the Eagles, who led 1-0 at the 3:40 mark. They'd make it two goals with 1:37 to play, after another aggressive offensive sweep from the Falcons failed to produce a goal and left them vulnerable at the back. The Falcons would get one back with 32 seconds remaining, after Keenan Lewis (Gamertag: Fesbot) bounced a pass off the back wall for Garcia, who pounced on the ball and smashed it into the goal. Lewis had a shot to tie with 20 seconds remaining, but his laser from midfield hit the crossbar and bounced back into play, and frantic pressure from the Falcons couldn't secure the equalizer.

Delaney had 12 saves and 16 shots spanning both matches for the Falcons, while also leading the team with four goals. 

The Falcons are now 1-4 on the year, and are scheduled to be back in action next Monday, 9/27 at 7:00pm ET for their next NACE Rocket League matchup versus Montgomery County Community College. Stay tuned to the Lackawanna College Esports Facebook and Twitter for more scheduling updates, and where and when to watch their livestreams.