WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 17, 2018) – Kelsey Gabriele knocked in the game-winning goal with 4:02 remaining in overtime to lead the King's College field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Keystone College on a wet Monday evening at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.

Gabriele scored the 11th game-winning goal of her career following a cross into the circle from the right side by Kelley O'Keefe. The senior captain was able to get a stick on the cross and knock it into the back of the cage for the only goal of the match.

Both teams struggled to score in regulation as the entire first half was played during a pouring rainstorm. The Giants (2-3) came out strong against the Monarchs controlling possession in the early minutes. They had the first chance of the match at the six-minute mark when CSAC Offensive Player of the Week Kayla Bain got off a shot in the middle of a scrum in front of cage off a cross. However, Brianne Maluda was able to get a pad on the shot to knock it away.

The Monarchs (4-3) settled down and recorded their first shot of the game early in the 10th minute when O'Keefe received a feed from the right side of the field into the circle and took a shot from the left side. Keystone's keeper Megan Novak was able to make the save on the ball with the Giants grabbing the rebounds. Keystone then pushed the ball upfield and Bain got around the Monarch defense and past Maluda who came out to stop the breakaway before taking a shot at the empty cage that just missed wide left.

Late in the 16th minute the Monarchs had another great opportunity to score when Bailey Jordan found open space on the left wing. Novak was able to make another save to keep the match scoreless. As the rain came down harder and harder as the half went on both teams struggled to get off a shot and the teams went into halftime with no goals.

The rain lightened up for the second half and King's took full advantage of the better conditions on their first penalty corner of the match. O'Keefe sent in the corner to the top of the circle. The ball found Gabriele's stick and she unleashed a shot that just went left of the cage. A few minutes later the Monarchs got another penalty corner and once again nearly scored. O'Keefe sent to corner to Gabriele at the top of the circle. Gabriele passed it back to O'Keefe on the left side who fired a shot towards goal that the Giants keeper was able to just get a leg on for a save.

The Monarchs were able to earn back-to-back corners in the 48th minute but Keystone was able to defend both without allowing a shot. Gabriele had another opportunity to score in the 57th minute when she unleashed a rocket from the top of the circle that went wide left. King's kept pressing for the go-ahead goal and Gabriele got another opportunity in the 63rd minute off another penalty corner. Bailey Jordan sent the ball out to the top of the circle where Gabriele was there waiting to take another shot. The Giants were able to get a defender in front of the shot to block it before it reached the goalkeeper. King's earned a penalty corner as time expired in regulation but were unable to get anything out of it.

In the always exciting seven-on-seven overtime period, the Giants took the first shot when Bain found space in the 74th minute. Maluda was able to make the save and King's pushed the ball up the field setting up the game-winning goal.

Gabriele scored her fourth goal of the year and 34th of her career. O'Keefe recorded her first assist of the season and second of her career. The Monarchs outshot the Giants 7-4 and held a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners. Maluda made two saves to pick up her third shutout of the year.

Bain took three of Keystone's four shots. Emily Hawkins got the loss in cage making one save after relieving Novak at halftime. Novak made two saves in the first half.

King's will be back in action on Wednesday night when they head down to Annville to face MAC Commonwealth opponent Lebanon Valley College at 7 p.m. in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.