SCRANTON, PA (September 13, 2018) – The King's College field hockey team was unable to keep pace with the high-powered offense of the University of Scranton as the host Royals defeated the Monarchs 6-1 on Thursday night on Weiss Field in Scranton.

Scranton (5-0) entered the match ranked in the top-40 in scoring average and scoring margin while having the 11th best goals against average in the nation. The Royals came out strong and earned a penalty corner 39 seconds into the game. The King's defense buckled down and held the Royals without a shot. The Scranton offense put a lot of pressure on the Monarchs (2-3) in the first five minutes getting three shots on goal and not allowing the Monarchs to get the ball onto the sticks of their forwards on their half of the field. Brianne Maluda made all three saves to keep the game scoreless.

The Royals earned their second penalty corner of the game in the 10th minute and Elizabeth Tolley put a shot on goal that Maluda once again made a save on. The Royals kept the pressure on Maluda with another shot on goal a minute later by Brianna Witt but she calmly knocked it away for her fifth save in the first 12 minutes. KC earned their first penalty corner of the match 30 seconds later putting the Royals in danger for the first time of the game. However, the Royals were able to knock the ball away following the pass in keeping the Monarchs off the scoreboard.

Tolley gave the Royals the lead early in the 20th minute when she found the back of the cage off a feed by Megan Gallagher. She then scored again a couple minutes later to increase the Royal lead to 2-0. Her second goal of the game came off an assist by Allie Benadon.

King's responded by earning another penalty corner in the 26th minute. Kelly O'Keefe sent the corner into play and Connie Mangino winded up with the ball and open space for a shot. Unfortunately, Scranton keeper Claire McAllister was able to kick the ball away.  The Royals took a 3-0 lead late in the 30th minute when Katherine McVeagh scored off a penalty corner. McVeagh sent the ball out and then received a pass back from Gallagher and knocked the ball into cage. The Monarchs finished the half strong with three shots but were unable to find the back of the cage. Bailey Jordan started the push with a shot from the middle of the circle that McAllister kicked back out to Kelsey Gabriele. Gabriele's attempt went wide left. Gabriele would get another shot at goal with 52 seconds left in the half from the right side of the circle. McAllister was able to just sneak in front of the ball before it snuck inside the right post.

Scranton increased the lead up to four early in the second half following a penalty corner. Maluda made a save on a shot by Gallagher first before Gallagher picked up the rebound and passed to Tolley in front of goal for her third goal of the match. The Monarchs responded right away earning a penalty corner. O'Keefe sent the corner out with the ball finding the stick of Jolee Treslar. Treslar sent a cross to Gabriele on the left side who knocked in her second goal of the year giving her 80 career points.

The Royals locked down defensively the rest of the game holding the Monarchs without another shot and scored two more goals. In the 50th minute Annie Amentler made it 5-1 off an assist from Tolley and then Julie Burrill wrapped up the scoring in the 57th minute off an assist from Gallagher.

Gabriele led the Monarchs with one goal on three shots. Treslar recorded her first career assist. Maluda made eight saves in cage for the Monarchs.

Tolley led the Royals with three goals and one assist while Gallagher added four assists. Scranton put 14 of their 15 shots on goal and held a 6-3 advantage in penalty corners. McAllister made three saves to pick up the win in cage.

The Monarchs will return home to host Immaculata University on Saturday at 5 p.m. in McCarthy Stadium. The Mighty Macs also played on Thursday night falling 3-0 to Widener.