PITTSTON, PA (November 22, 2019) --- Liam Johnson and Michael DiSchiavi scored their second goals of the season on Friday evening as the King's College men's ice hockey team gave Wilkes University a tough battle in a 5-2 loss to the conference leaders.

The Colonels (5-1-0, 5-0-0 UCHC, 3-0-0 MAC) entered the day atop both the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) standings with a perfect conference record. The Monarchs (1-4-0, 1-4-0 UCHC, 1-2-0 MAC) got their fans at a packed Revolution Ice Centre going early as Liam Johnson stole the puck inside the blue line and beat the WU goalie 5:23 into the game. The goal was the second of the season for Johnson. KC kept the pressure on the Colonels earning a pair of power play opportunities. Wilkes was able to kill off both chances without allowing a goal.

King's earned another power play opportunity following a scuffle behind the Colonel goal with 4:36 left in the period. The Colonels were able to even the score despite being down a man as Billy Berry tallied his second goal of the year with 3:19 left in the period. The Colonels then took advantage of a pair of King's penalties in the final couple minutes as Donald Flynn scored twice to give the visitors a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Monarchs came out strong in the second period, but the Colonels managed to increase their lead to 4-1 with a goal by Ryan Galvin at the 6:46 mark. Brandon Daigle played exceptionally well in goal during the period after Wilkes managed to squeak a trio of goals into the back of the net at the end of the first period. The sophomore stopped 15 of the 16 shots he saw in the period. King's cut the lead in half seven minutes into the third period as DiSchiavi sent a puck from below the red line towards goal. The puck bounced off the back of the WU goalie and into the back of the net for the sophomore's second goal of the year. Alex Acosta recorded the first assist of his career on the play.

The Colonels got a goal from Danny Reidel midway through the period to stop any chance of a Monarch comeback and set the final score. Flynn finished with two goals including the game-winner for Wilkes while Michael Gurska had two assists. Freshman Michael Paterson-Jones made 17 saves to continue his perfect start to his collegiate career as he improved to 5-0-0.

DiSchiavi led the Monarchs with four shots while Tommy Cahill won 10 of 16 faceoffs. Daigle finished the game with 26 saves.

King's will look to rebound from the tough loss tomorrow evening as they host Bryn Athyn College in the team's first non-conference game of the season. Puck drop will be at 7 pm from Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston.