WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 19, 2019) -- Despite a first half Monarchs goal, the King's College women's soccer team fell to #20 Stevens Institute of Technology, 2-1, at McCarthy Stadium Saturday night. The Monarchs drop to 6-8-1 on the season, 1-3-0 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play.

Junior Emily Harrington scored on a chip over the keeper from the left wing to the just inside the far post for the lone goal for the Monarchs, her seventh of the season, off an assist by sophomore Casey Genovese in the 22nd minute of the match. Harrington's goal stood as the teams entered the locker rooms for halftime with the Monarchs leading, 1-0. The goal was an historic one as it marked the first-ever goal the Ducks conceded in the MAC Freedom. A conference-newcomer, Stevens had recorded clean sheets in their first three conference wins over Misericordia, Wilkes, and FDU-Florham.

Both teams continued their physical play before the Ducks scored their first goal of the match to tie the game, 1-1, in the 79th minute as Julia Panko hit a shot off a pass from Gabby Saade from the top of the box that rolled in off an initial save by freshman Erica Blackburn. Stevens scored the game-winning goal just over nine minutes later as Emily Damrell scored on a header off a cross pass from Fiona Matthews to secure the win, 2-1.

The Monarchs play one of the best matches of the season against one of the best opponents they will face all year. The defense played incredibly well blocking the majority of the 30 shots the Ducks took. Abby Castle was a huge catalyst for the defense continually denying any attempt at goal and not allowing the SIT attackers to get past her. She wasn't the only KC defender to block shots in a total team effort and everyone that saw time on the pitch had a big impact on not allowing a Stevens goal until the 80th minute.

Harrington led the Monarchs with two shots, one on goal, for the lone Monarch goal of the match. Blackburn recorded a career-high 10 saves in the loss. The freshman was incredible in net making tough save after tough save to keep the Ducks off the board. One of Blackburn's biggest saves came in the 75th minute as she made a beautiful kick save on a Saade breakaway attempt to preserve the one-goal advantage.

As a team, the Monarchs totaled seven shots with five on goal for the match compared to the Ducks' 30 shots. King's also saw less corners than Stevens (6-2).

King's is back in action as they face local MAC Freedom rival Wilkes University on the road on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. The match will be played on the Colonels' brand new Bruggeworth Field in the Ralston Athletic Complex. The Monarchs return home to host Misericordia University on the Monarchs' senior night on Saturday starting at 1:00 pm.