8/27/26
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College men's soccer will kick off the 2026-2027 campaign on Thursday, August 27^th, with a home-opening contest against NCAA Division II Chestnut Hill College. The game is set for a 3:30pm ET start at Schautz Stadium in Dunmore, PA.
 
The Falcons
Lackawanna has played a pair of scrimmages, and Thursday's contest marks the start of their regular season. It's the first game for Lackawanna College under new head coach Will Flannery, who took over the program in February earlier this calendar year.
 
In six months, Flannery has re-energized the squad with a strong professional work ethic that emphasizes accountability and team culture, and the Falcons will field a team with young, talented players at nearly all positions.
 
There isn't much returning from last year's team, in terms of production, but multiple transfers have experience on the collegiate level elsewhere, including Cristian Lopez-Contreras (Chambersburg, PA), who was a second-team NJCAA All-American last year at Harford CC, where he scored 15 goals and had seven assists for the Fighting Owls. The Falcons hope to pair his talent with speedy wingers on the edge and center forwards up front.
 
At the back, the Falcons have a pair of experienced center backs in Byron McNeil (Springfield, IL) and Austin Haywood (Catonsville, MD), who they hope can anchor the defense. McNeil is a transfer from Division III Blackburn College, where the 6-foot-5 defender was a two-year competitor who also competed in track and field for the Beavers. Haywood was a two-year player for Westminster College (D-III) where he scored a goal in his pair of seasons.
 
The Griffins
Chestnut Hill College was 6-10-1 last season and will be playing its first contest of the season against Lackawanna College on Thursday.
 
The Griffins are coached by Jesse Zafiratos, entering his third season at the helm for CHC. He doubled wins from year one to year two, and coached a pair of second-team all-conference selections. Zafiratos has had stops with Cedar Crest women's soccer, Hood College men's soccer, Rosemont College men's soccer, and Penn State Brandywine men's soccer, earning himself 86 career wins as a head coach. Zafiratos has been named conference Coach of the Year twice in his career, including during his run at PSU Brandywine, where he won a USCAA national championship and won three-straight PSUAC championships.
 
The 2026 edition has 13 returners from last year's team and 13 new faces, including several transfers with Division II experience. The Griffins were picked to finish tenth of the eleven teams in the CACC.
 
Returning is second-team all-conference selection Abdoulaye Kamagate, who had five goals and six assists a year ago. Also on the squad is former Falcon Ermir Hoti, who was a part of the program for two years in 2023 and 2024.
 
Game Details
Chestnut Hill College (0-0-0) at Lackawanna College (0-0-0)
Thursday 8/27, 3:30pm ET; Schautz Stadium (1220 Prescott Ave, Dunmore, PA 18512)
 
Live Video: lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE
Tickets: lackawannafalcons.com/tickets
 
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Next up, Lackawanna College is set to travel to take on the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY on Wednesday, September 2^nd, at 6:00pm ET. The Falcons will be back home again on Saturday, September 5^th, with a home match against Berkeley College (NJ) at 1:00pm ET at Schautz Stadium.