PURCHASE, NY (October 13, 2018) – The King's College men's soccer team picked up a very important three points on Saturday by defeating host Manhattanville College 4-2 in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom battle on GoValiants.com Field in Purchase, NY.

The Monarchs (8-4-2, 3-1 MAC Freedom) responded very well to a tough loss to Wilkes on Tuesday and an early deficit by rattling off three first half goals against the Valiants (9-4-0, 2-2 MAC Freedom). The victory was crucial for KC as the two teams entered the day in a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Wilkes. King's victory and the Colonels loss to first-place Eastern has the Monarchs all alone in second place with three conference matches remaining.

Manhattanville had the first look of the match as Pablo Bravo Olle's attempt went wide left a few minutes in. Steven Grebe sent a shot high in the sixth minute before Liam McLoughlin had a great opportunity to score a minute later. McLoughlin received a cross in the middle of the box and sent a shot towards the back of the net. M'Ville's keeper Charles Roberts just kept the Monarchs off the board with a great diving stop.

The Valiants had a great chance late in the 10th minute following a Monarch foul just outside the box. Bravo Olle sent the free kick into the wall before Marius Nicolaysen put a shot on goal that Owen Geedey was able to save. Nicolaysen gave M'Ville the lead in the 14th minute when he received a header from Nico Diaz in the box and found the right corner of the net.

It didn't take very long for the Monarchs to respond as KC drew a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick. August Axtman stepped up and calmly knocked in his fourth penalty kick of the year to even the score. The Monarchs kept the pressure on Roberts as Ryan Romeo missed just high of the cross bar before Grebe and McLoughlin put shots on goal that Roberts kept out of net.

The Monarchs had a great look in the 33rd minute on a cross to Quentin Szeker-Cortes, but his attempt missed wide left. Will Brack caught Roberts off guard on a shot attempt from deep in the 34th minute. Brack's shot hit off the post and then off Roberts before rolling over the goal line for a corner kick. The Valiants were able to defend two King's corners without allowing a shot.

Aidan Oyler had his shot blocked before a foul by the Valiants gave the Monarchs a great set piece opportunity. Ryan Romeo took advantage of the opportunity with his second goal of the year as he deflected Szeker-Cortes' free kick from the left side inside the left post. The Monarchs scored again right before halftime when Alexander Showalter intercepted a MC pass in King's offensive end. Showalter put the ball into the left corner of the net for his first career goal to give KC a two-goal advantage at the break.

Wolcott nearly increased the lead in the 57th minute with a shot from the top of the box. Roberts made a diving save to his right keeping the ball out of the back of the net. The Valiants pushed the ball down the field and Daniel Lombardo had a shot deflected off the crossbar setting up a corner kick. The Monarchs were able to knock the ball away before Bravo Olle found space for a shot that missed just high.

The Monarchs held the Valiants without a shot until just over seven minutes left when Geedey made a diving stop of a Diaz attempt from just outside the box. Jacob Zlobinsky cut the lead to 3-2 when he connected on a well-executed bicycle kick inside the box off a cross from Nicolaysen.

Will Brack ended all hopes of a comeback when he found the upper left corner of the net a couple minutes later. The goal was the junior's first of the season and fourth of his career while Aidan DeCamillo recorded his fifth career assist.

King's out-shot the Valiants 22-12 including 12-6 in shots on goal in the very physical battle. M'Ville held a 7-4 advantage on corner kicks. Geedey made four saves in net to pick up the victory for KC while Roberts made eight saves in the losing effort.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Wednesday when they make the short trip down the turnpike to face DeSales University at 3:30 p.m. in Center Valley. A victory over the Bulldogs could clinch a MAC Freedom Tournament berth for the seventh straight year depending on other results around the conference.