CENTER VALLEY, PA (October 17, 2018) –
August Axtman scored his fifth penalty kick goal of the season and
Owen Geedey recorded his eighth shutout of the year as the King's College men's soccer team defeated DeSales University 2-0 on a windy Wednesday afternoon in Center Valley.
The Monarchs (9-4-2, 4-1 MAC Freedom) moved closer to clinching the program's seventh consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Tournament berth. DeSales, who eliminated the Monarchs in the semifinals of last year's conference tournament on penalty kicks before winning the Championship on PKs, drops to 5-8-1 overall and 1-4 in conference play. KC stays in second in the conference standings with 12 points. The Monarchs will face last-place Delaware Valley and first-place Eastern in their final two matches.
Strong winds played a big factor in the match as both teams tried to adjust to the ball flying across the field early on. The Monarchs took advantage of having the wind at their backs in the first half as
Alastair Dinnan took the first shot of the match five minutes in. His attempt sailed wide right of the goal. DSU caught the Monarchs offsides twice as King's looked to get an attacker behind the defense.
Aidan DeCamillo came off the bench in the 21st minute and immediately made an impact putting two shots on goal. Bulldog keeper made two nice saves on the shots to keep the match tied. DeCamillo's second shot was knocked over the goal line for a corner kick. The Bulldogs were able to defend the corner and then two more corner kicks two minutes later without allowing a shot.
King's went into the break with identical 3-1 shot and corner kick advantages. DeSales came out strong in the second half with the wind now at their backs.
Owen Geedey made back-to-back saves on shots from Sean Tunney and Chris Tocchet. Tunney headed a ball towards goal that Michael Kirby threw in from the right side forcing Geedey to make his first save of the day. Tocchet picked up the loose ball and fired a shot from the left side which Geedey knocked away for a corner.
KC successfully defended the corner and pushed the ball upfield. The Monarchs got the ball onto the very capable feet of
Alastair Dinnan on the left side of the box before he was fouled setting up a penalty kick. Axtman stepped up as he has all season and gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute on his team-leading sixth goal of the season. He also increased his PK numbers to five-for-five on the year.
Zach Wolcott kept the pressure on McKinney five minutes later as the Bulldog keeper made a save on Wolcott's shot on goal. DeSales countered the Monarch attack and pressed for the equalizer. Geedey, however, was up to the challenge and made four great saves to keep the lead intact.
DeCamillo scored his fifth goal of the year in the 86th minute to end any chance of a Bulldog comeback.
Will Brack sent a through ball down the left side to DeCamillo. DeCamillo did the rest beating the keeper to the far post.
The Monarchs were out-shot for the first time all year 10-7 but each team had six shots on goal. Geedey made a season-high six saves to record his 30th career shutout. He equaled his own school record with his eighth shutout of the season. Axtman scored his 14th career goal and Brack recorded his first career assist. DeCamillo scored the eighth goal of his career while also keeping his streak alive of recording a point in each of King's conference wins this year.
King's will be back in action on Saturday night when they host Delaware Valley University at 7:30 p.m. for Senior Night at McCarthy Stadium. A victory over the Aggies will put the Monarchs in great position to earn the top seed in the conference tournament in their season finale against Eastern.
