WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 10, 2018) - Jessica Egan scored on a penalty kick goal with 6:01 remaining to lift the Wilkes University women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over King's College on Wednesday night at McCarthy Stadium.
The Monarchs (4-7-0, 1-2 MAC Freedom) played well against the Colonels (6-4-1, 3-0 MAC Freedom) despite being out-shot 19-6. Wilkes, a 2017 NCAA Tournament qualifier as an at-large selection stayed undefeated in conference play with the victory.
Wilkes dominated possession to begin the match. The Colonels recorded the first shot of the match 70 seconds in when Emily Bidelspach sent a free kick from 35 yards out on the right hash mark wide right of the net. Nicolette Towlen, Wilkes' leading scorer, put the first of her six shots on goal in the seventh minute.
Tara Bender made easy work making the save. Bender was forced to make another save in the 19th minute when Karyna Vargas sent a shot in from distance.
Late in the 25th minute Bidelspach found open space in the box but Bender once again came up with a big save to keep the Colonels off the scoreboard. WU had another great look at goal following a corner kick in the 29th minute as Emily Wirth picked up a loose ball in the box and knocked it towards goal. However, Bender was able to catch the ball for the save.
The Monarchs settled down after surviving the early push by the Colonels. In the 34th minute
Kara Keim gave KC the lead with a beautiful 27 yard bomb that found the upper right of the net. The goal was the third of the year for the freshman defender while
Sophia Sacknievich recorded her first career assist with her pass back to Keim from the edge of the box.
Wilkes fought back with three corner kicks in the final five minutes of the half. The Monarchs defense defended each other brilliantly not allowing a shot as they took a one-goal advantage into the break.
The Monarchs came out strong in the second half looking to increase the lead as
Breanna Jacinto found
Gillian Coar on a breakaway down the left side. Coar dribbled into the box with just the keeper to beat but was unable to get her shot past Samantha Cecere. Coar had another opportunity to score in the 53rd minute with a rocket from just outside the box. However, Cecere was able to get a glove on it knocking it over the crossbar for a corner kick. On the corner kick Jacinto found
Casey Genovese in the middle of the box for a shot on goal but Cecere was able to make the save.
The Colonels evened the score in the 55th minute when Haley Evan sent a corner kick into the box that found Megan Lecara for a header. Her shot just snuck inside the left post for the equalizer. Wilkes pressed to add another goal but Bender made three saves to keep the match even.
Lercara nearly scored again off another corner kick with just over 10 minutes left to play as Bender made a great save on the headed ball. The Colonels received their big opportunity late in the 84th minute when King's was called for a foul in the box. Egan stepped up and kicked the ball into the lower right for her third goal of the season. WU was able to hold the Monarchs without a shot the rest of the way as they held on for the victory.
Bender finished with a career-high 10 saves in net for the Monarchs. Cecere made three saves to pick up the win in goal for the Colonels.
King's will look to rebound from the tough loss on Saturday when they make their final conference trip to Manhattanville College. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. on GoValiants.com Field in Purchase. The Valiants will be leaving the MAC Freedom after this season for the Skyline Conference.
--MONARCHS--
