10/15/24
 
DUNMORE, Pa. – Two first half goals put short-handed Lackawanna women's soccer on its heels, and a late second half goal only solidified defeat, as the Falcons fell to Sussex County CC, 3-0, on a windy Tuesday afternoon at Schautz Stadium.
 
The Falcons (2-4-0) were playing with eight outfield players and a keeper, while Sussex had nine outfield players and a keeper, so neither team had full strength. Sussex (1-6-1) managed to exploit their extra woman advantage, however, with two goals inside of the first 15 minutes.
 
In the 12^th minute, a Lackawanna turnover resulted in a break into the defensive third of the Falcons, where the Skylanders threaded a great ball through that struck the post, then bounced in to make it 1-0. Three minutes later, the Skylanders beat the Falcons defense and scored on a breakaway to make it 2-0 in the 15^th minute.
 
Lackawanna's defense managed to right itself over the final half hour of the first half, but the offense couldn't get much push. A change was made, as starting keeper Sophia Mandarano (Dunmore, PA) was brought back out to her more natural position on defense, and usual keeper Lindsey Tasker (Clarks Summit, PA), who spent the first half as a forward, went back to backstop the defense for the second half.
 
With Mandarano on the field, the Falcons had a little more bite in the second half, and even earned a free kick just two minutes in on a foul outside the box on the left side. Autumn Frederick (Etters, PA) lined up the shot and smoked one towards goal, but just missed putting it past the keeper. Frederick led the Falcons with four shots. Mandarano also had three shots in the second half, with one on target.
 
Eventually, with the Falcons stretching thin in the midfield and at the back, Sussex broke through again for a 1v1, beating the Falcon defense for a third goal in the 83^rd minute to secure the first win of the year for the Skylanders.
 
Sussex outshot the Falcons 11-to-8, with eight of their eleven shots on target. The Falcons had four shots on goal. Sussex had six corners to Lackawanna's five, and the Falcons had five saves to four from Sussex.
 
Lackawanna's final regular season game will be on Monday, October 21^st, when the Falcons travel to take on Middlesex College. Kickoff is set for 2:30pm ET in Edison, NJ.