OCTOBER 14, 2017

KING'S FIELD HOCKEY RECORDS PROGRAM'S FIRST-EVER WIN AT EASTERN

ST. DAVIDS, PA ---Kelsey Gabriele scored two goals to lead the King's College field hockey team to the program's first-ever victory at traditional conference power Eastern University by a 3-2 score on Saturday in St. Davids.

King's records their second straight victory over the Eagles and the program's first in nine tries on Eastern's home turf. The victory improves the Monarchs overall record to 8-7 and a 3-1 mark in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play. Eastern falls to 4-10 overall and a 1-3 mark in the conference.

The Monarchs came out firing with Gabriele, Anastasia Araviakis, and Kelley O'Keefe recording shots in the first five minutes. Gabriele gave King's a 1-0 lead late in the sixth minute when she received a short pass from Maryrose Mauro on the left side of the circle and shot the ball in between the Eagles keeper's  legs and inside the right post of the cage for her 11 goal of the season. Eastern responded with the game-tying goal in the 16th minute when Maya Wales tapped in a feed from Gina Miller.

The Monarchs fought to regain the lead and had three shots on goal in the 23rd minute but each time Nicole Berger was able to make the save for Eastern.  The Eagles looked to score to go-ahead goal in the 29th minute when they got a shot pass King's keeper Kayla Nailor but Taylor Runo was there to keep the ball out of cage. Gabriele gave the Monarchs the lead back 26 seconds before the first half ended when she dribbled up the right side of the field and found the inside of the right post for her conference-leading 12th goal of the year.

Early in the second half the Eagles pushed for the equalizer and appeared to receive it a couple minutes in but Devan Pepe recorded a defensive save to keep to Monarch lead at 2-1. Sarah Zbierski increased King's lead to 3-1 early in the 44th minute when she scored after a penalty corner. Playing with a two goal advantage the Monarch defense went to work blocking two Eastern shots off two corners. King's fought off two penalty corner without a shot forcing Eastern to call a timeout with under 10 minutes left in the game. Coming out of the timeout the Eagles earned another penalty corner but were not able to get a shot off until a full minute later when Nailor saved Ali Balmer's shot on goal. Moriah Greene took three consecutive shots in the final minute of play but Nailor kept each shot out of cage. The Eagles were able to score off a penalty corner as time expired to set the final score.

Kelsey Gabriele led King's with two goals. Sarah Zbierski added a goal and Maryrose Mauro had an assist. Kayla Nailor recorded five saves to pick up the victory in cage.

Maya Wales scored both of Eastern's goals and Gina Miller had two assists. Nicole Berger made seven saves.

The teams both recorded 12 shots with the Monarchs holding a slim 10-9 advantage in shots on goal. Eastern had a 9-5 advantage in penalty corners.

King's will look to clinch a berth in the MAC Freedom Championships on Wednesday when they host cross-town rival Wilkes University at 7:00 p.m. on Senior Night at McCarthy Stadium.