1/30/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Round One of the NACE StarLeague Rocket League season got under way between Lackawanna College and Shenandoah University on Monday night, and it was the Falcons that used dominant second and third games to sweep past the Hornets 3-0 (4-3, 7-2, 7-1) and start the spring 2023 campaign off on the right foot.
 
The Falcons (1-0) came out of the gates swinging in the best-of-five matchup, burying three goals in the first couple of minutes, keeping Shenandoah (0-1) on its heels. The Hornets started to pick up the aggression halfway through the game, and were able to answer with some goals of their own, but the Falcons weren't going to let game one slip out of their grasp. By the end of the first game, Matthew Kelly (Jenkintown, PA; @JKfoshizzle) found himself with a hat trick, while new recruit Zakaree Chappa (@zak.) added a goal in his debut to give the Falcons the game one victory at 4-3.
 
The second game saw Lackawanna really put Shenandoah to the screws. The team plays, aerial acrobatics, and defensive rotation all combined and really shone, as Shenandoah could not find an answer for the Lackawanna College offense. By the end of game two, Chappa found himself with six goals, while Kelly added one of his own this time. Lackawanna was dominant throughout, and walked away with a 7-2 win and a 2-0 match lead.
 
The dominance from the Falcons in game two spilled over to game three, as Lackawanna continued to put the pressure on the Shenandoah defense. The Falcons held the majority of the possession throughout the third game, forcing the Hornets to defend and play on the back heel throughout the final frame. Shenandoah tried testing the Lackawanna College net, but Kelly and Guadalupe Oca (Eagle Pass, TX; @AyeOca) combined for five total saves in the Falcon defensive half to keep the momentum from swinging to Shenandoah. The Falcons' offense piled up another seven goals, this time getting four from Oca and three from Chappa to win going away, 7-1, and sweep the match at 3-0. 
 
The Falcons combined for 37 total shots on net while landing 18 in the back of the net. Chappa earned himself his first Man-of-the-Match in his first ever regular season appearance scoring ten goals on 13 shots, while dishing out five helpers. Oca and Kelly each finished with four goals, apiece, with Oca dishing out five assists, and Kelly offering three helpers.
 
The Lackawanna College Falcons Rocket League team starts the year at 1-0 in NACE StarLeague Varsity Premier play, and will be back on-stream next Monday, February 6^th at 7pm ET vs. James Madison University. Be sure to stay tuned to the Lackawanna College Esports Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram for all our Esports scheduling information!
 

Lackawanna College vs. Shenandoah University
Player	Goals	Assists	Saves	Shots
Guadalupe "AyeOca" Oca IV	4	5	5	15
Matthew "JKfoshizzle" Kelly	4	3	3	9
Zak "zak." Chappa	10	5	4	13
Total	18	13	12	37

 

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