9/13/22
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College men's soccer team is ready to hit the pitch, for real, tonight, September 13^th, when the Falcons host the Cougars of Lehigh Carbon CC under the lights at Dunmore's Schautz Stadium at 7:00pm ET. 
 
Tonight's game will have a free video livestream available via the Lackawanna College and Region 19 Sports Network. You can watch along at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, or via the Region 19 Sports Network app on your smart devices/Roku.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (0-0) has a few familiar faces mixed in with the fresh new recruits, but the biggest change from last year is the man in charge, as Zachary Shiposh enters his first season as the head coach for the Falcons.
 
Shiposh, a Clarks Summit native, brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience from all over the world. Shiposh played at St. John's University in New York, gaining valuable high-level collegiate experience, and then transitioned into playing and coaching in soccer hotbeds like Brazil and Germany. He has several coaching certifications, and was the Falcon assistant in the spring 2022 semester before being elevated to head coach.  
 
The Falcons return two players with plenty of playing experience from last year in midfielder Gerard Borosky (Scott Township, PA) and forward Ahmed Kaid (Staten Island, NY). Borosky is a steady presence in the midfield, with a solid right foot on dead ball kicks, while Kaid provides some speed up top, and a little goal scoring ability.
 
Also back, but stepping into his playing time in between the pipes is Jahdale Givans (Bronx, NY). Givans, a Jamaican native who went to school in the Bronx, will be the Falcons goalkeeper this season, and will hope to use his 6'1 frame and athletic ability to keep clean sheets for the good guys.
 
Lackawanna College has several international arrivals, including Willis Smith (Oxford, England), a solid defender all the way from the UK. Smith gives the Falcons some much-needed stability at the back, and obviously comes from a background where "football" is built into his DNA.
 
The Falcons also have their share of local players, with former West Scranton HS midfielder Jose Gonzalez (Scranton, PA) and forward Kevin Andrade (Scranton, PA), as well as former Scranton Prep and Marywood University forward Edilson Lopes (Taylor, PA).
 
The Falcons were 1-4-1 last season, with a 2-2 draw at Montgomery County CC and a 1-0 victory over Hagerstown CC as their two positive results.
 
About The Opponents
Lehigh Carbon CC (0-2-1) comes into the contest after a 1-1 draw with Penn State York this past Saturday. The Cougars fell 8-0 to Raritan Valley, and dropped an 11-2 game against Montgomery County CC earlier this season.
 
Ian Cruz leads Lehigh Carbon with two goals on the season, both coming on penalties. Cruz's second goal of the year came in the 48^th minute against PSU York on Saturday, drawing both teams level. In that game, the Nittany Lions had a 20-to-11 shot advantage, and 8-to-2 corner kick edge, but the Cougars battled to keep it tied the rest of the way.
 
Ryan Ibanez has the other goal on the year for Lehigh Carbon.
 
Alex Mkryan has been the main keeper for the Cougars, but split the last game with Jonathan Perloni, who came on in the second half against Penn State York.
 
The head coach for Lehigh Carbon is Dave Cartwright, who spent four years as the Director of Soccer Operations and was an assistant coach with the Lafayette men's soccer program, helping the Leopards to a 2019 Patriot League final appearance.
 
Cartwright, a United Kingdom native, has an extensive background in youth soccer, especially in the Lehigh Valley, and also coached in the UK at West Wales and Peterborough United Development Academies. He also spent time as a scout for Nottingham Forest FC, which competes in the Premier League in England.
 
Match Details
The match is set for a 7:00pm ET kick tonight, September 13^th, at Schautz Stadium in Dunmore. Schautz is located at 1220 Prescott Avenue in nearby Dunmore, a short drive into the hill section from Lackawanna College. Admission to the contest is free.
 
The match will be livestreamed via the Lackawanna College and Region 19 Sports Network, where you can watch along at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, or via the Region 19 Sports Network app on your smart devices/Roku.