WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 16, 2019) – The weather cooperated, and the 2019 season got underway for the King's College men's lacrosse team, but Andy Orlowski's bunch started slowly falling to visiting Arcadia University 15-4 in non-conference action from McCarthy Stadium Saturday afternoon.

The Monarchs fell behind 5-0 after the first 13-plus minutes of the game, as Sean Connolly finished the five-goal spurt for the visiting Knights (1-0) with his first of the season at 2:17 of the game. King's would get on the board with less than two minutes to go in the opening stanza, as Gabe Vansuch tallied from Ryan Matusiewicz to make it a 5-1 game.

Arcadia would control the second quarter, posting the only four goals of the period to take a 9-1 edge into the locker room. King's actually outshot its opponents in the second quarter 13-7, but couldn't find the back of the cage as Arcadia's Grant Palmer made three saves in the period.
The run continued after the break, as the Knights built their lead up to 11 following a Tanner Pajakinas goal with 6:11 to go in the third quarter. From that point on, King's played even with Arcadia but couldn't overcome the deficit.

Senior goalkeeper Matt Basile got the start and played all 60 minutes for King's, making a career-high 21 saves in the contest. Vansuch finished with a team-leading two goals, adding two ground balls, while sophomores Charlie Alessi and Alec Martin also scored for the Monarchs. Jack Camp and Jared Gambino added assists for King's (0-1), as Camp led the Monarchs in the shot department with seven.

Trevor Douenias got the start at the face-off dot for the Monarchs, and winning eight of his 17 draws on the day, while finishing with a team-leading four ground balls. Martin added three ground balls for King's while Michael O'Brien also tallied three ground balls. In addition to his first collegiate goal, Alessi finished with two caused turnovers. Defenders Jacob Wrede and Aaron Olsovsky each contributed with two ground balls and a caused turnover as well for the Monarchs.

Clo Muscara chalked up nine points for the Knights on seven goals and a pair of assists, while Brady Manion, Ryan Mahon and Connolly all finished with two goals apiece. Muscara took 20 shots on the day for AU. Philip Hane won 9-of-14 face-offs for Arcadia, leading the way with six ground balls as well.

The visitors held a 53-36 lead in the shot column, while also edging King's in the ground ball totals, 40-35.

The Monarchs will be able to shake this loss off quickly, as King's heads up to the University of Scranton at 3 p.m. Sunday in more non-conference play. Arcadia will take on Marywood University tomorrow afternoon.