APRIL 14, 2018

MEN'S LACROSSE DEFEATS FDU-FLORHAM 8-7

WILKES-BARRE, PA - Brian Steiger only took two shots in Saturday's game against FDU-Florham and the second proved to be the difference maker. The junior attack found the back of the net off a Ryan Matusiewicz feed that gave the Monarchs an 8-7 overtime victory.

With the win King's moves to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play, while FDU-Florham falls to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.

The first quarter was all King's, with the Monarchs outshooting the visiting Devils 18-4 while picking up 12 ground balls. The FDU defense held strong though; keeping King's scoreless in the opening ten minutes of play. King's got on the board first when junior Nick Maher decided it was time to help out Brock Johnson record his 100th career goal. The midfielder found Johnson where he was able to give King's the 1-0 lead at the 4:50 mark. With that goal, Johnson became the first player in King's College history to reach the triple-digit goal mark.

Junior Brett O'Neill tacked on two more goals for King's before the period ended to push the lead to 3-0. His first being unassisted, while the second came off a Jared Gambino pass.

FDU-Florham flipped the script in the second quarter, outshooting the Monarchs 13-5 and scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead in the final minutes of the half. Johnson would give King's another spark after causing a Devils' turnover, scooping the ground ball and then rocketing a shot past the goalkeeper to keep the game tied 4-4 going into halftime.

Things began to even out in the final half with neither side able to pull away. Shawn Dickey scored a man-up goal early in the third, but the Devils responded soon after to keep the game tied 5-5. Gambino then converted a pass from Johnson to give King's a 6-5 advantage heading into the final quarter.  

FDU went on to score three minutes into the final period to tie the game again, but a goal by Brett O'Neill kept the Monarchs ahead. After a King's penalty with 5:39 remaining, the Devils took advantage by locking the score at 7-7 until overtime.

In extra time, the Devils picked up the ground ball off the face off, but Mike McDougal caused the turnover soon after to give King's possession. A clutch save by the FDU goalkeeper returned the ball to the Devils, but Dickey made a key defensive turnover in the clear attempt at the 2:50 mark. With time winding down, Dickey took a shot on goal while Johnson picked up the ground ball off the save. Soon after, Matusiewicz found Steiger from 15-yards out for the cannon shot into the net to end the game 8-7.

O'Neill led King's with three goals, with Johnson having two. Nick Foley recorded nine ground balls while going 13-for-19 on face offs. In goal, Matt Basile had 12 saves and tied his season low in goals against.

King's returns to action on April 18th for a 4 p.m. road contest against Delaware Valley.