WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 11, 2018) – Maryrose Mauro scored with 7:39 remaining in the match to break a 1-1 tie and give the King's College field hockey team a thrilling 2-1 victory over visiting Muhlenberg College on Tuesday night at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.
The Monarchs (2-2), who were playing their first home match of the year after three straight on the road, treated their fans to a thrilling victory. The victory was also the first for King's over Muhlenberg (0-4) since a 1-0 overtime victory in 2015.
King's came out strong and had two great opportunities in the opening minutes of the game. Jolee Treslar had her shot from the right side of the circle knocked away by the Mules keeper before the Monarchs earned their first penalty corner of the game. On the penalty corner Kelley O'Keefe found Kelsey Gabriele near the top of the circle and after taking a couple steps in Gabriele unleashed a shot that got past the keeper but also sailed wide left of the cage.
The Monarchs had another great chance early in the 11th minute when Treslar's shot went wide left but Gabriele was there for a rebound shot that Jordan Segrave was able to just keep out of the cage. Mauro got in on the attack a minute later with a shot from the middle of the circle that was knocked away by Segrave.
The Mules responded with a shot by Rachel Richards that Brianne Maluda made a great save on. Stephi Rydgren grabbed the rebound and sent another shot towards the cage for Muhlenberg but it sailed high. MC had another flurry of shots in the 24th minute as they pushed for the go-ahead goal. Rydgren began the run with a shot that knocked off the left post. She then grabbed her own rebound and put another shot towards cage that Maluda knocked away. Maluda made her third save of the minute when Sarah Rabb got off a shot after a penalty corner.
King's broke through with the game's first goal early in the second half when Rachel Zultevicz relayed a ball sent towards the top of the circle by Gabriele to Treslar in the middle of the circle. Treslar found open space and fired the ball towards the left post and into the back of the cage for her second goal of the season.
Muhlenberg fired right back a few minutes later when Courtney Allen sent a pass from the goal line on the left side to the Megan Webber in the middle of the circle. Webber was able to get the ball past Maluda and inside the left post to even the score.
Following the two goals, both teams increased their defensive pressure. Neither team was able to get a shot on goal until the 62nd minute. Gabriele found space open in the circle for a shot that Segrave knocked away. Gabriele was able to get the ball back and sent a second shot towards cage that Segrave once again was able to save.
The Mules gained possession of the ball following the two saves and advanced the ball into their offensive side of the field. King's was able to draw a turnover and pushed upfield. The Monarchs got the ball on the stick of Mauro after a cross field pass by Connie Mangino. Mauro took one step before unleashing a rocket from the 20-yard line towards the cage. Her shot deflected off a defender's stick and into the back of the cage for the eventual game-winner. The goal was Mauro's first of the season and second of her career.
Muhlenberg had one final shot to even the score in the 68th minute following a penalty corner. However, Maluda was able to make another save to preserve the win for the Monarchs.
King's outshot the Mules 10-9 while Muhlenberg had a 9-7 advantage in penalty corners. Brianne Maluda made four saves in cage to pick up her second win of the season.
The Monarchs will be back in action on Thursday night when they make the short trip up I-81 to face the University of Scranton at 7 p.m. on Weiss Field.
--MONARCHS--
