Box Score
OCTOBER 17, 2017

MONARCH SOCCER TEAM FALLS TO EASTERN 2-1; CLINCH BERTH INTO POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT

WILKES-BARRE, PA --- The King's College men's soccer team lost their first conference game of the season to visiting Eastern University 2-1 on Tuesday night at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.

Despite the loss the Monarchs were able to clinch a berth into the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championships. King's and Eastern, who also clinched a berth in the conference championships, have faced each other in postseason play the past three years with two matchups coming in the Championship and the third in last year's semifinal.

The Monarchs see their overall record drop to 10-4-1 with a 4-1 mark in conference play. The Eagles improve to 11-3 and 4-1 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play.

In a battle of two of the top teams in the conference in scoring and defense the Eagles, who entered the game ranked eighth in the Mid-Atlantic Region, were able to rally from an early deficit to hand the Monarchs their first conference loss of the year. The game was closely fought throughout similar to the recent history between the programs as now six of the last seven matchups between the teams have been decided by a goal or less.

King's got on board first early in the third minute when Zach Wolcott found Will Brack open on the right side and Brack sent a ball into the box that sailed over the Eastern keeper's head and into the upper left corner of net. The Monarchs used the momentum of taking the early lead to gain possession of the ball back from the Eagles and were able to move the ball within scoring range of Liam McLoughlin but his fourth minute shot sailed wide right of net. In the ninth minute Wolcott had a quality look at goal but his shot was saved by Quentin Keibler. Neither team was able to get a quality look at net over the next 25 minutes as both teams showed why their defenses were ranked so highly in the conference with much of the play happening in the middle of the field. Eastern was able to tie the game in the 36th minute after Jadon Ramsing headed a long throw in from Cole Lesher that hit the left post and appeared to be saved from going over the goal line by King's keeper Owen Geedey but the assistant referee ruled that the ball went over the line giving the Eagles the equalizer.

The second half started with physical play by both sides with each looking for the important go-ahead goal. The Monarchs had the first shot of the half in the 54th minute but the attempt by Michael Scardelletti sailed high. In the 64th minute the Monarchs were able to gained two corner kicks. They were unable to get off a shot on the first attempt, however, on the second corner Daniel Lorandini found open space for a shot on goal but Keibler was able to keep the shot out of the back of the net. Early in the 77th minute the Eagles earned their only corner kick of the game. They made the most of the attempt as Sean Dougherty who had just subbed into the game before the kick was taken found the back of the net giving the Eagles the lead. On the corner Colin Furlong sent a ball from the left side to the right of the box where Billy Walenda headed the ball toward goal where Dougherty one-timed the ball into the right side of the net. King's was able to get off two shots in the following couple minutes but each shot went high as the Eagles were able to hang on for the victory by holding King's without an attempt the final 10 minutes of the game.

Will Brack scored a goal in his second consecutive game for the Monarchs while Zach Wolcott recorded his fourth assist of the year.

King's outshot the Eagles 8-4 including 3-2 in shots on goal while also holding a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Saturday when they host third-place DeSales University in another important MAC Freedom matchup at 4:00 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium. King's will look to lock up a top two seed and a postseason home game with a victory over the Bulldogs.