HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (September 26, 2018) – The King's College men's soccer team exploded for three first half goals to defeat host Centenary University 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon in Hackettstown, NJ.

The three goals were the most for King's (5-3-2) in the first half since scoring three times in each half during a 6-0 victory at Juniata last September. The Monarchs also recorded a shutout of Centenary (2-6) for the second consecutive year.

The Monarchs push pressure on the Cyclones right away as Alastair Dinnan had his shot blocked early in the fifth minute of the match. After the Monarchs picked up the rebound Abdullah Alsubaie sent in a shot that went wide of goal. The Cyclone recorded their first shot of the match in the 10th minute when Jared Miele's attempt sailed wide right.

Centenary earned the first corner kick in the 15th minute and Jahn Lopez connected with the Cyclones leading scorer Josh Weiss for a shot on goal. However, Owen Geedey was there for the Monarchs to make the save and start a Monarch counter attack up the sideline.  

Zach Wolcott pushed the ball into King's offensive end and sent in a cross to the front of the net that a streaking Sam Pipicelli got a foot on and one-timed into the back of the net giving King's a 1-0 lead 14:50 into the match. Pipicelli scored for the second consecutive match while Wolcott recorded his seventh career assist and first of the season.

Early in the 26th minute August Axtman just missed extending the Monarchs lead with a header that hit the crossbar. The Cyclones knocked the ball over the goal line giving KC a corner kick. On the corner kick Quentin Szeker-Cortes connected with Ayrton Omoigui for King's second goal of the match and Omoigui's first career goal. Szeker-Cortes has now recorded four assists on the season and extended his streak up to three matches with an assist.

King's was not done there as a couple minutes later Liam McLoughlin sent a shot on goal that Centenary keeper Devon Warne was able to keep out of net. The Monarchs took control back of the ball and Pat Holton got a shot off that went wide right. Axtman gave the Monarchs a 3-0 advantage at 34:53 when he knocked in his second penalty kick goal of the season. The goal was Axtman's third total of the year and 11th of his career.

Sean Murray tried to increase the Monarch lead even further a couple minutes with a shot on goal, but Warne was able to make the save. Late in the half the Cyclones were able to find a break in the stingy Monarch defense and get two shots off. The first header went wide before a shot by Chris Spataro was saved by Geedey. Aidan DeCamillo ended the half with a shot that was saved by Warne.

Holding a three-goal advantage and with a big conference opener coming up on Saturday against FDU-Florham the Monarchs played conservative in the second half. The Cyclones came out of the break and earned a corner kick a couple minutes in. Matt Miller's shot off the corner sailed wide of goal. The Monarchs took their first shot of the half late in the 52nd minute when Fabio Massa sent an attempt wide right. Alastair Dinnan and Wolcott had back-to-back shots that were blocked by the CU defense.

Early in the 66th minute the Monarchs had a great opportunity to score off a corner kick by Dinnan. Massa put a shot on goal off the kick, but Warne was there to make the save for the Cyclones. A minute later the Monarchs had another quality corner attempt when Wolcott found McLoughlin in the middle of the box. McLoughlin's header just missed the goal high. The Monarchs continued their onslaught of shots towards goal as McLoughlin and Dinnan had shots go high. Michael Scardelletti put a shot on goal that was saved in 71st minute.

The Cyclones responded with a header by Ornette Sanchez off a corner kick that went high at 75:09. Following a CU change in net, Sean Murray got off two shots that went high and then wide of goal. Centenary's Besnik Hadzovic had his shot knocked away by Geedey in the 81st minute before Sebastian Montoya went wide right off a corner kick a minute later. Centenary kept pushing to get a goal in the final 10 minutes of action as Montoya sent a shot high late in 86th minute and Geedey preserved the shutout with a save of a Roger Fernandez shot in the 87th minute.

The Monarchs out-shot the Cyclones 22-12 in the match while Centenary held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks. Geedey recorded his 28th career shutout and sixth of the year with four saves.

King's will now open MAC Freedom play on Saturday when they host FDU-Florham at 1:30 p.m. in McCarthy Stadium