EDWARDSVILLE, PA (October 23, 2019) --- Freshman
Kristina Keithley scored on a beautiful cross from
Emily Harrington in the 37th minute for the King's College women's soccer team on Wednesday night at Bruggeworth Field but the host Wilkes University Colonels scored four goals in the second half including three in the final 16 minutes to defeat the Monarchs 5-1 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom match.
The Monarchs (6-9-1, 1-4-0 MAC Freedom) got off to a slow start in the match as the Colonels controlled possession early on. Jessica Egan had a couple of shots for the Wilkes (6-6-1, 3-2-0 MAC Freedom) that sailed wide of the net in the first 15 minutes. Egan managed to find the back of the net in the 21st minute as she received a thru ball from Karyna Vargas in the middle of the pitch and then chipped a shot past the goalkeeper for the first goal of the match.
King's fought right back earning a pair of back-to-back corner kicks late in the 36th minute. On the second kick Harrington found
Angelina Falcone near the top of the box. Falcone took a few dribbles to her right to find space before sending a pass to Harrington on the right wing. Harrington sent a cross into the box for Keithley who had snuck behind the defense. The freshman got a foot on the cross and poked it into the lower right corner for her third goal of the year.
The game-tying goal shifted momentum in the match as the Monarchs went on the offensive as they looked to take the lead. Harrington nearly did just that less than a minute later, but Samantha Cecere knocked her shot over the goal line for a corner kick. King's continued their push into the opening minutes of the second half as they controlled possession and had a great opportunity five minutes in.
Breanna Jacinto passed a ball back to
Kara Keim who rocketed a long distance shot towards the upper left from around 40 yards out. The Wilkes keeper managed to get a hand on the ball but was not able to control it as the ball nearly rolled into the net. However, it just missed the net by inches rolling over the goal line for a corner kick.
Wilkes scored the go-ahead go in the 60th minute as Vargas managed to find the back of the net on a shot from the top of the box. The Colonels kept the pressure on the Monarchs scoring three times in the final 16 minutes of play. Egan scored the first goal on a header off a corner kick by Vargas with exactly 16 minutes to play. A minute later Tatiana Mancera found the back of the net on a chip in the box off a pass from Haley Evans. The final goal came with 28 seconds left as Allison Peet knocked in a ball in front of the goal off another assist by Evans.
Tara Bender made three saves in goal while facing 16 shots. The Monarchs put all four of their shots on goal with Cecere making two saves before being relieved by Kendall Koch in the 79th minute. Koch made a save on the only shot she faced. Keim had two shots for the Monarchs while Harrington and Keithley had one each. Harrington recorded her fifth assist of the year and seventh of her career.
King's will return to the pitch on Saturday when they host Misericordia University in the final home match of the year. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm at McCarthy Stadium. Prior to the match the team will honor seniors
Natalie Poulton and
Sophia Sacknievich along with junior
Emily Harrington who are all playing their final home match of their careers.
--MONARCHS--
