9/28/21

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College women's soccer team gets back to work on Tuesday September 28th when the Falcons host the nationally ranked Sussex CC Skylanders at Loyola Field in Scranton at 3:30pm.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (0-3-0) enters the game after an extended break due to games being postponed because of weather. The last time the Falcons were in action was at the Dragon Classic at Howard CC on September 18^th and 19^th. There, the Falcons faced rugged competition from Cape Fear CC in game one, and the nationally-ranked hosts Howard CC in game two the next day. While neither score was very kind to Lackawanna College, the Falcons will use the tough competition to prepare themselves for the rest of the season.
 
The Falcons are led by third-year player Ashley Bruno, who has scored twice already this season from her forward spot. Fellow third-year Rachel Apsley mans the midfield, and scored a goal against Cape Fear this season.
 
The Falcons continue to work in some new faces to pair with Bruno and Apsley, including forward Aliyah Shade, midfielders Lexi Livelsberger and Sarah Manweiler, and defenders Alexis Maurer and Ashley Edlind.
 
Sophia Andreoli is the main keeper for the Falcons, and has 21 saves in her 1.5 games so far this year. Emily Cherubini may also see time at keeper.
 
The Falcons are led by first-year head coach Megan Tweedy, a Lakeland High School product and former Falcon soccer player herself. Megan has spent time as an assistant under former Falcon head coach Danny Berg in his role as head soccer coach at Valley View High School, and was the leader of the girls soccer program at Valley View the last two years.  
 
About The Opponents
The Skylanders (4-2-0) come in ranked #19 in the latest NJCAA Division II Women's Soccer poll. After going 2-2 in their first four games, Sussex has won their last two matches by a combined 20-2, including a 13-0 shutout of Ocean County College in their last game on Saturday.
 
Sussex is led by sophomore forward Sophia Taylor, who has seven goals in six appearances for the Skylanders. Sophia is one of three players with five or more goals, as freshman Lotte Klüter and sophomore Blaise Vallorosi each have five apiece.
 
Vallorosi is tied for the team-lead in assists with three this year, along with sophomore midfielders Carina Gasparini and Paula Herold. The keeper is sophomore Sofia Anica, who has allowed 10 goals in six games, and has the clean sheet over Ocean County College to her credit.
 
The Skylanders are coached by Frank Vernacchio, who has been both the men's and women's coach since 2015 for Sussex. Vernaccio, a Sussex CC graduate and former men's soccer player for the Skylanders, has helped the program to seven regional championship appearances as a head coach, and has coached three All-American players in his time at Sussex CC.
 
Weather permitting, the match WILL be video-streamed live on the Lackawanna College YouTube channel via this link HERE.
 
Check back on lackawannafalcons.com for schedule updates, stats, and scores.