CENTER VALLEY, PA (October 16, 2018) – The King's College women's soccer team fought hard but were unable to overcome two first-half goals in a 2-0 loss at DeSales University on Tuesday afternoon in Center Valley.

The host Bulldogs (6-6-2, 3-2 MAC Freedom) held off a strong attack by the Monarchs (5-8-0, 2-3 MAC Freedom) in the second half of the match. The entire match was a defensive battle as both teams struggled to find footing on the grass field. DeSales held a 9-6 shot advantage taking seven in the first half.

DSU went on the attack right away earning a corner kick a couple minutes in. Rachel Medlar received a corner kick by Annie Brush near the top of the box and sent a shot towards the right post. Tara Bender and a Monarch defender were there to keep the ball out of net. King's defended two more Bulldog corners in the first five minutes without allowing a shot.

The Monarchs countered the Bulldogs attempt in the 10th minute when Danielle Putnam found space on the left side. Putnam dribbled past a Bulldog defender before rocketing a shot towards goal. DSU keeper Haley Jacob came up with the big save on Putnam's point-blank shot on the left wing. Natalie Dorsheimer gave DeSales a 1-0 lead early in the 17th minute following a through pass by Rachel Medlar. Dorsheimer received the pass with just the keeper to beat. Bender came out of net to try and stop the oncoming attack but Dorsheimer was able to dribble around her before knocking the ball into the back of the net.

Sam Riccardi doubled the lead nine minutes later when she knocked in a cross by Dorsheimer. Sydney Amato nearly made it 3-0 in the 28th minute but Bender was able to come up with a big save. The Monarchs made a push late in the half to cut the deficit before halftime. Alyssa Macher nearly scored in the 42nd minute but Jacobs was able to knock away her shot before it went into the back of the net.

King's came out of the break strong earning three corner kicks in the first 15 minutes. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs defense was able to defend the corners without conceding a shot. Kara Keim sent a shot high of the crossbar in the 61st minute before Gillian Coar gave the Bulldogs a scare in the 71st minute. Coar got behind the Bulldog defense and had just the keeper to beat but Jacobs once again was able to come up with a big save to keep the Monarchs off the board. Keim had a good look a couple minutes later that Jacobs grabbed to preserve her third consecutive shutout.

The Monarchs controlled possession for much of the second half while giving DeSales a few scares. KC finished the match with four corner kicks and five shots on goal. Keim led the team with two shots while Putnam, Coar, Macher, and Emily Harrington put a shot on goal each. Bender made three saves in goal.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Saturday when they host Delaware Valley University at 5 p.m. in McCarthy Stadium. King's must earn points against the Aggies on Senior Night to keep their postseason hopes alive after today's loss. Two wins in their final two conference matches will secure a berth in the MAC Freedom Tournament for KC.