NOVEMBER 4, 2016

KING'S FIELD HOCKEY TEAM PLAYING FOR MAC FREEDOM TITLE SATURDAY AT FDU-FLORHAM

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College field hockey team will look to make its dream of an NCAA Division III National Tournament berth come true on Saturday when the Monarchs travel to face FDU-Florham for the 2016 Freedom Conference championship Saturday in Madison, N.J.

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.   Fans can follow the game online at the following links:

Live Video:  http://fdudevils.com/watch/?Live=36  

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

Under the direction of first-year head coach Martha Kerrick, King's enters the matchup with a 12-6 overall record while the Devils stand at 14-6. The teams recently played their regular-season matchup on October 22 with FDU posting a 3-0 victory at King's McCarthy Stadium.

King's, seeded-second in the event, reached the final with a 3-0 semi-final victory over third-seeded Manhattanville College Wednesday night at McCarthy Stadium.  Top-seeded FDU, meanwhile, also advanced with a 4-0 home victory over fourth-seeded Wilkes University.

It will mark the first time King's has reached the Freedom Conference title game since the Monarchs placed second in 2012.

The Devils, meanwhile, are looking to improve upon their second place finish in 20015 after winning the title in 2014.

King's and FDU last met in the Freedom Conference Tournament in 2010 when the Monarchs posted a 2-1 double-overtime semi-final victory. The Monarchs also downed FDU in the 2008 semi-finals by a 4-1 count.

King's and FDU have squared off once in the Freedom title game - 2007 - which resulted in a a 2-0 Monarch victory and the program's last NCAA Tournament berth.

King's offense is paced by junior forward Brianna DiMaggio, a first-team All-Freedom Conference selection who tops the squad with 31 points on 14 goals and three assists. Sophomore forward Kelsey Gabriele, a second-team All-Freedom choice, follows with 29 points on 11 goals and seven 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 manned by senior co-captain Haley Waslasky, a second-team All-Freedom pick, and sophomore Symantha Sharon. In goal, senior co-captain Paige Tedik, an honorable mention choice, sports a 1.33 goals against average with 60 saves.

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

Leading the FDU attack is two-time Freedom Conference "Offensive Player of the Year" Kim Davis who has 45 points on 19 goals and seven assists. Second-team All-Freedom pick Chrissy Penney follows with 19 points on nine goals and one assist while Freedom Conference "Defensive Player of the Year" Erin O'Connell adds 14 points on four goals and six assists. Brooke Sherwin chips in with 13 points on six goals and one assist.

In goal, sophomore Samantha Rubin has a 1.16 goals against average with 69 saves. Sophomore Makayla Pak was a first-team defensive selection while freshman Maggie Sohns was a second-team midfielder. Junior defender Lauren Brannan was an honorable mention choice.

The winner of the Freedom Conference championship game will receive a berth into next week's NCAA Division III National Tournament. King's has qualified fir the NCAA Tournament twice in program history - 2006 and 2007.