NOVEMBER 1, 2016

SECOND-SEEDED KING'S FIELD HOCKEY HOSTING THIRD-SEEDED MANHATTANVILLE IN FREEDOM TOURNEY SEMI-FINALS WEDNESDAY

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College field hockey team will make its first trip to the post-season since 2012 when the Monarchs play host to Manhattanville College in the MAC Freedom Conference Tournament semi-finals Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.

Ticket prices set by the Middle Atlantic Conference Office are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students and children. Pre-school children under age-six will be admitted free. King's students will be admitted free with the presentation of student I.D.

Fans unable to attend can follow the game online at the following links:

Live Video:  http://livestream.com/kingscollege

LiveStats:  http://www.sidearmstats.com/kings/fhockey/

King's enters the tournament as the second seed after posting a 11-6 overall record while finishing 5-2 in Freedom Conference play. Manhattanville, meanwhile, is also 11-6 with a 4-3 league mark. The Monarchs have played a strong non-conference schedule to prepare for a post-season run. Three of King's losses have come to Salisbury (14-1) ranked second nationally; Alvernia (18-1), ranked 16th; and Muhlenberg (15-2) and ranked 14th. King's lost to Salisbury 5-1; Muhlenberg 2-1 in overtime; and to Alvernia by a 2-1 count.

King's and Manhattanville played their regular-season matchup October 1 in Purchase, N.Y. with the host Valiants posting a 3-1 victory despite being outshot by King's 21-8 in the game.  This time around, the stakes are much higher as one team will see its season come to and end while the winner will play for the conference title.

King's, which made eight straight playoff appearances from 2003-through-2012, did not qualify for the post-season from 2013-through-2015. The Monarchs return to the playoffs in first-year head coach Martha Kerrick's rookie season at the helm after serving as the lead assistant coach at King's the past 15 seasons.

King's is paced by junior forward Brianna DiMaggio, who was named first-team All-Freedom Conference early Tuesday.  DiMaggio tops the squad with 27 points on 12 goals and five assists. Sophomore forward Kelsey Gabriele, a second-team All-Freedom choice, follows with 26 points on 10 goals and six assists while senior forward Caitlin Wood adds 21 points on nine goals and three assists. Junior forward Selina Malacari chips in with 15 points on six goals and three assists.

King's defense is headed by senior co-captain Haley Waslasky, a second-team All-Freedom pick, and sophomore Samantha Sharon. In goal, senior and team co-captain Paige Tedik, an honorable mention choice who owns a 1.41 goals against average with 60 saves.

Patrolling the midfield for King's is senior co-captain Nicole Sott and junior Sarah Zbierski, both second-team All-Freedom picks, along with junior Anastasia Araviakis and sophomore Devan Pepe.

For Manhattanville, Bregje Smits leads the team with 34 points on 15 goals and four assists. Melissa Stys follows with 26 points on five goals and 15 assists. Robin Boot chips in with 12 points on six scores. In goal, Kaitlin Halloran has a 1.60 goals against average with 96 saves.

The King's-Manhattanville winner will move on to play the winner of the other semi-final meeting between top-seeded FDU-Florham and fourth-seeded Wilkes in the Freedom Conference title game Saturday at the site of the highest remaining seed. The winner of the league crown will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Tournament.