11/28/22
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College Esports Rocket League went 1-1 in its opening pair of matches on Monday night in the National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAe) Invitational Rocket League Playoffs, knocking off Barton CC in a 3-0 (8-1, 7-0, 6-0) sweep before dropping a five-set thriller to Saint Clair College, 3-2 (3-2, 2-3, 4-5, 4-1, 5-7) on Monday night.
 
The Falcons came into the playoffs as the #1 seed after their perfect 7-0 regular season. Their first round matchup was against the 8^th-seeded Barton Community College, and, from the start, Lackawanna showed the same poise and execution that helped them secure the top-seed. It was an offensive and defensive clinic on both sides of the pitch. Together, the Falcons put away 21 goals on 31 attempts. Guadalupe Ayoca (Eagle Pass, TX; Gamertag: AyeOca) accounted for 19 of those shots, scoring 12 goals. Matthew Kelly (Jenkintown, PA; Gamertag: JKfoshizzle) provided 12 crucial saves in the Lackawanna College backfield, and super-sub Justin Bryk (Wilkes-Barre, PA; Gamertag: Brick) stepped into the starting lineup and played the third man role to perfection, providing support throughout the entire first match.
 

Lackawanna College vs. Barton Community College
Player	Goals	Assists	Saves	Shots
Guadalupe "AyeOca" Oca IV	12	5	5	19
Matthew "JKfoshizzle" Kelly	8	5	12	8
Justin "Brickster" Bryk	1	4	0	4
Total	21	14	17	31

 

Game	Score
1	8 - 1
2	7 - 0
3	6 - 0

 
The Falcons' second round opponent was the always formidable Saint Clair College Saints, and the match proved to be a wild watch. Lackawanna College came out swinging in the first game of the best-of-five, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in game one. The Saints fought back, using the Falcons' aggressive playing style to their own advantage. Saint Clair came back with two goals of its own, but Lackawanna managed to maintain possession long enough to hang on for a game one win. Game two was just as tight, with both teams looking for what little openings they could find to exploit. Rotations were crisp, and both teams showed great technical aerial ability, but it came down to the Saints being on the right side of a 3-2 scoreline to tie things up at 1-all.
 
Game three devolved into a brutal high-speed tennis match, with both teams burying goals left and right. Just when one team would gain a goal advantage, the other would have an answer at the other end of the field. But it was Saint Clair, once again, that had just that little bit of extra, ending the game with a 5-4 win and putting the Falcons on the brink. Lackawanna College bounced back in game four, as Guadalupe Oca came in hot with another quick kickoff goal to give the Falcons an early lead, and really give Lackawanna the upper hand throughout the fourth game. Constant pressure from Lackawanna kept Saint Clair turning the ball over, and giving the Falcons chances on net. It ended 4-1 in favor of Lackawanna, sending the series to the winner-take-all game number five.
 
The fifth game was played tight by both teams for the majority of the contest. Both teams wanted the W, and neither team would give up any ground. Things stood at 3-2 past the midway point of the game, when suddenly the goal mouth opened up for Saint Clair, and the Saints started sending their attack forward, putting three goals through in a hurry to make it 6-2 with just over ninety seconds to go. Not to be outdone, the Falcons proved they had equal amounts of firepower, scoring three goals in just over a minute to bring the game to a tight 6-5 margin with 17 seconds to go. However, as it had done all match, Saint Clair got that one extra goal to make the difference, scoring a lightning quick goal with less than ten seconds remaining to push the lead back to its final 7-5 margin, giving the Saints the fifth game and the match at 3-2.
 

Lackawanna College vs. Saint Clair Community College
Player	Goals	Assists	Saves	Shots
Guadalupe "AyeOca" Oca IV	9	6	16	14
Matthew "JKfoshizzle" Kelly	7	5	13	23
Justin "brickster" Bryk	2	1	2	4
Total	18	12	31	41

 

Game	Score
1	3 - 2
2	2 - 3
3	4 - 5
4	4 - 1
5	5 - 7

 
 
Despite the loss, the Falcons are not out of the NJCAAE Invitational Playoffs, a double-elimination tournament. The Falcons now move into the elimination bracket, where their next match will be played on Sunday, December 4^th at 2pm against an opponent to be determined by other results in the bracket. That match will be do-or-die for the Rocket League squad, with a win advancing the Falcons further into the playoffs, and a loss ending their season prematurely. Be sure to tune into the Lackawanna College Esports stream on Sunday to support our Falcons! Also, please be sure to tune into the livestream on Wednesday 11/30 at 6:00pm ET as Xavier Lasenburg (Scranton, PA; Gamertag: Lvl.X) starts his NJCAAE Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Playoff journey!