Program
OCTOBER 31, 2017
KING'S MEN'S SOCCER HOSTS DESALES IN MAC FREEDOM SEMIFINAL ON WEDNESDAY
WILKES-BARRE, PA --- The second-seeded King's College men's soccer team will host third-seeded DeSales University at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Semifinal game.
Ticket prices have been set by the Middle Atlantic Conference at $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for students. King's students will have free admission with showing of their King's ID.
Fans unable to attend can follow the game online at the following links:
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/kings/msoc/
Live Video:
https://livestream.com/kingscollege
The Monarchs are making their sixth consecutive postseason appearance and will look to win the conference championship and earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. The Monarchs earned the second seed after recording an 11-6-1 overall record and 5-2 mark in conference play. King's and top-seeded Eastern University each had 5-2 records to finish atop the conference standings but the Eagles were awarded the top seed because of their 2-1 victory over King's on October 17th. DeSales is making their second consecutive postseason appearance after finishing the regular season with an impressive 12-2-4 overall record and 4-1-2 mark in conference play. The Bulldogs dropped their first game of the year 3-0 at Penn State Behrend and then did not lose again until Eastern was able to come away with a 1-0 victory over the Bulldogs in a battle for first-place on the final day of the regular season.
King's and DeSales played a thrilling overtime battle just 10 days ago on October 21st in which the Bulldogs came away with a 3-2 victory at McCarthy Stadium. In that game DeSales struck first when Cooper Moyer found the back of the net late in the first half. Justin Habick increased the lead to 2-0 early in the second half on penalty kick goal. However, the Monarchs fought back behind two goals from
August Axtman to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Bulldogs came away with the road victory just 82 seconds into the extra period when Max Cortina dribbled through the King's defense and found the back of the net. The Monarchs and Bulldogs have met just once before in the postseason. 10 years ago in Center Valley, top-seeded DeSales defeated third-seeded King's 2-0 on November 3, 2007 in the Freedom Conference Championship game.
This year the Monarchs have been led by All-MAC Freedom First Team Selection
Liam McLoughlin with 24 points on 11 goals and two assist. Axtman, also a first team selection, is second on the team with 16 points on eight goals including four penalty kick goals.
Brendan Raab, who was also a first team selection, and
Alastair Dinnan each recorded eight points on three goals and two assists.
Steven Valencia is peaking at the right time and has six points on two goals and two assists with both goals and one assist happening in the last two games of the regular season to earn "Offensive Player of the Week" honors on Monday.
Aidan DeCamillo has also recorded six points on two goals and two assists,
Zach Wolcott has six points on one goal and four assists, and
Kevin Mazol has six points on six assists while taking the majority of King's free kicks and corners. In goal
Owen Geedey has started all 18 games and recorded a 0.95 goal against average and a .712 save percentage while recording six shutouts.
As a team King's led the conference in scoring with 35 goals, in corner kicks with 114, and finished second in assists with 26. Defensively the teams finished third in goals allowed with 17.
DeSales has been led by first team selection Justin Habick who has recorded 18 points on nine goals. Second team selection Michael Kirby has 14 points on five goals and four assists while Sean Tunney, also a second team selection, has eight points on four goals. In goal, first team selection Dan Sulpizio has a 0.62 goal against average and a .878 save percentage while recording 10 shutouts. The Bulldogs have allowed 12 goals in 18 games this year, tied for fewest in the conference with Eastern.
The winner will advance to Saturday's Championship game against the winner of the other Semifinal between top-seeded Eastern and fourth-seeded FDU-Florham. If Eastern advances the Championship game will be played at Eastern. If FDU-Florham advances the winner of King's-DeSales will host the Championship game.
