9/14/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's soccer gets back to action this weekend, as the Falcons travel to New Jersey for a Region XIX Division II contest against the Essex County College Wolverines. The match is set for a 1:00pm ET start on Saturday, September 14^th, at the brand new ECC West Essex campus facility in West Caldwell, NJ.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (0-1) got its season underway last Saturday, dropping a 4-1 decision to NJCAA Division I opponent Monroe Community College. The Falcons fell behind 1-0 in the first 15 minutes, but held firm until the 70^th minute or so, when the pressure from the Tribunes eventually wore down the Falcons. You can read the recap HERE.
 
In that contest, Lackawanna gave up 35 shots, 19 on-target, and got 15 saves from keeper Aldo Vargas (Scranton, PA). Lackawanna was on defense for most of the contest, the Falcons did manage to break through with under ten minutes to go, thanks to great link-up play between sophomores Tyler Pepsin (Old Forge, PA) and Sebastian Carmona (Scranton, PA), with Carmona scoring his first goal of the season.
 
Carmona is one of the top scorers from last year's squad, where he had nine goals for the Falcons in 12 appearances. Carmona also had a pair of assists. The forward really didn't get going until his eighth appearance, scoring a hattrick in a win against Union. Carmona scored at least a goal in his last five regular season contests, and had another hattrick, scoring three in a 7-1 at PSU Schuylkill.
 
Another player expected to step up for the Falcons is returning Region XIX Player of the Year, Guillermo Ramírez (Valencia, Venezuela). Ramírez had four goals and an assist last season and was the main player that held down the quality midfield for the Falcons a year ago.
 
Also back is sophomore Ermir Hoti (Gjakova, Kosovo), who led last year's team with ten goals and four assists. Hoti was a dead ball striker extraordinaire, managing most of the free kick and corner kick opportunities for the Falcons. His best game came against Elmira College JV, where he scored four goals a year ago.
 
Pepsin had a goal and three assists last season. He'll switch to more of a hybrid role as a winger/midfielder for the Falcons this season. His venture down the left side of the pitch and subsequent cross led to the Carmona goal against Monroe CC.
 
Sophomore Sebastian Charles (Bethesda, MD) played sparingly last year, due to injury, but the big guy to man the middle of the defense is back for the Falcons, healthy and ready to roll. Charles isn't the only one coming back from injury, as the Falcons will also have the services of defender Jordan Artmont (Dallas, PA), who missed all of last season with injury, and is healthy for the Falcons.
 
The interim head coach is Danny Berg, who is also the Coordinator of Athletic Operations and Fundraising for Lackawanna College Athletics. Berg has been with the College for nearly 20 years, and was hired as the first-ever women's soccer coach in the mid 2000's. On top of his duties with the Falcons, Berg spent a few seasons as the head boys and girls soccer coach at Valley View HS.
 
About Essex County College
The Wolverines (1-0-1) come into the contest after drawing with Berkeley College this past Tuesday, 2-2. That was a game where Essex broke open a 1-1 game with a goal in the 68^th minute, then gave up the equalizer right at the death to end in a draw.
 
In two games, the Wolverines have scored six goals and given up three. Essex has 19 shots to 12 for their opponents, but the Wolverines already have eight yellows.
 
Kristijan Penic leads the team with a pair of goals scored this season. The first-year player had both goals come in the 4-1 win against Five Towns College last weekend. He was held scoreless earlier this week against Berkeley.
 
Four other Wolverines players have each scored a goal, with first-year player Miguel Solorzano adding a pair of assists. Solorzano scored his goal in the draw vs. Berkeley.
 
Sophomores Jaime Cobas, Tyreece Francis, and Noah Kaiser all have one goal scored this year.
 
The keeper is Ahmed Roudane, who has eleven saves on the season.
 
Pedro Sousa is the head coach for Essex, in his first season as the mentor for the Wolverines. Sousa was elevated to the head job after spending two years as an assistant with the program. Sousa played junior college soccer, helping Union College (NJ) to a national championship in 2009. He has coaching experience with Arsenal Soccer Schools Academy USA, and has consulted with International Footballers Academy and Agency of America.
 
The Match-Up
The match between the Falcons and the Wolverines is set for a 1:00pm ET kick at the West Essex campus facility in West Caldwell, NJ on Saturday, September 14^th.
 
Lackawanna is back to work on Thursday, September 19^th, with an away match at Harrisburg Area CC. Kickoff is set for a 4:00pm ET start in the state capital.