To open the 2024 season, the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's lacrosse season hit the road for a game in New Jersey against Sussex County Community College. Squaring off against the Skylanders, the Panthers took an early lead but couldn't hold on, falling by a 9-7 final. The Panthers are now 0-1; it was the first win in three games this season for Sussex.

The first score of the season belonged to Louie Profetta (Ontario/Wayne H.S.), and it gave the Panthers the lead in the fifth minute of play. Five minutes later the lead doubled on a goal by Nick McCabe (Binghamton/Chenango Forks H.S.). Sussex got on the board before the quarter ended, making the score 2-1 at the first break.

The home team scored twice to take the lead early in the second quarter, but the Panthers answered on McCabe's second score to tie the game at 3-3 with 10:37 left before halftime. Sussex had the final two scores of the quarter, taking a 5-3 lead into the half.

The two teams traded goals in the third, sending the game to the fourth at 7-5. Sussex kept the pattern going by scoring first just 30 seconds into the quarter. Kenyen Lovett (Rochester/West Irondequoit H.S.) answered for the Panthers with 11:30 left in the game, and then added his second goal 36 seconds later, cutting the deficit to just one goal at 8-7. As the teams battled over the next six minutes, but the Panthers couldn't quite get the equalizer and with 5:26 left on the clock, Sussex pushed the lead back to two goals with what would turn out to be the last goal of the game.

McCabe finished the game with a team-best four goals. Profetta had a goal and two assists and Lovett had two goals. Dwain Frazier (Jamaica/Jamaica H.S.) and Dillon Farrell (Endicott/Union-Endicott H.S.) each tallied an assist. Goalie Matt Nichols (Waverly/Waverly H.S.) had 12 saves in his debut.

Looking ahead

The Panthers open Region 3 play on Saturday, March 9 with a home game against Monroe Community College.