WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 29, 2018) – Sophomore Liam McLoughlin scored two goals to lead the King's College men's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout of FDU-Florham in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom opener on Saturday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.

The Monarchs (6-3-2, 1-0) continued their dominance over the Devils (3-7, 0-1) with their sixth straight victory over FDU-Florham and their 15th in the last 16 meetings. The King's defense suffocated the Devils all day allowing just four second half shots with only one going on goal.

FDU-Florham had an opportunity to score in the 10th minute following a turnover near midfield. The Monarchs caught the Devils offside on the counter attack nullifying a shot that winded up going into goal. KC settled into a groove following the offside and Quentin Szeker-Cortes took King's first shot in the 16th minute when his attempt from 20 yards out beat the keeper but just went wide right of the post. The Monarchs had another quality look a couple minutes later when Fabio Massa sent a cross across the field to Zach Wolcott on the right side on a 2v1 opportunity. Wolcott's attempt from the middle of the box missed high.

Alastair Dinnan nearly gave the Monarchs the lead in the 22nd minute when Massa headed the ball into the box in front of the keeper. Dinnan was able to get a foot on the ball knocking it towards goal but Tiernan Grey was able to grab the ball out of the air for the save. In the 26th minute Wolcott put a shot on goal that Grey knocked away setting up a King's corner kick.

Dinnan sent the corner in from the left side to the right post. Wolcott was there to get a head on the ball sending it back to the middle of the box where McLoughlin was there waiting to score and give King's an early lead. The Monarchs made it 2-0 not even two minutes later following an FDU-Florham foul in the box. August Axtman converted his third penalty kick of the year to increase the lead.

Axtman nearly scored again in the 38th minute on a corner kick by Szeker-Cortes on a bicycle kick in the middle of the box but Grey was able to come up with the save. The Monarchs went into the locker room at halftime up by two goals and outshooting the Devils 9-0.

McLoughlin made it 3-0 early in the second half by knocking in a rebound in front of the net. Sam Pipicelli rocketed a shot from distance that hit off the crossbar and bounced in front of the goal. McLoughlin came charging in a was the first one to get to the ball knocking it into the back of the net for his second goal of the match.

Caleb Aryiku sent a bicycle kick in on goal in the 64th minute for FDU-Florham first shot of the game that Owen Geedey made easy work of the keep the Devils scoreless. Vincenzo Russo headed a ball pass Geedey in the 76th minute but the ball hit off the post and a Monarchs cleared it away from danger.
Ayrton Omoigui had two great looks at net for the Monarchs in a 10-minute span following crosses to the middle of the box. His first attempt went right at Grey for a save while his second attempted header went wide right just missing the post.

Aidan DeCamillo scored his third goal of the year on a breakaway in the 82nd minute giving the Monarchs a 4-0 advantage. Two minutes later Aidan Oyler nearly scored on a shot towards an open net. However, a Devil defenseman was able to step in the way keeping the ball out of the goal.

McLoughlin scored his 13th and 14th career goals on two shots to pace King's. Axtman scored his team leading fourth goal of the year while DeCamillo scored his sixth career goal. Wolcott had his second assist of the year and eighth of his career while Dinnan's assist was the fifth of his career. Pipicelli recorded a point in his third consecutive match with his first assist of the year and third of his career. Owen Geedey made one save in goal before being relieved by Connor McKeown for the final 5:30 of the match.

The Monarchs will return to the pitch on Tuesday when they travel to Williamsport for a 7 p.m. start against Penn College in the team's final non-conference match of the season.