HUNTINGDON, PA (March 27, 2019) – King's College freshman Jen O'Connor posted five goals, four caused turnovers and 12 draw controls to lead the Monarch women's lacrosse team to their first road win of the 2019 season, knocking off host Juniata College 15-6 in non-conference action Wednesday evening.

It was the best defensive game of the season for the Monarchs, who held the Eagles (5-5) to just 15 shots on the game. King's wasted no time getting the lead, as O'Connor won the first draw and the ensuing possession ended in a goal from Mary Kate Klodarska on an assist from Kylie McCarthy for the 1-0 lead.

The hosts would fight back with two goals from Paige Riker, taking a 2-1 lead with 21:39 to go in the opening half. The Monarchs (3-6) would tie the game just under four minutes later, as O'Connor scored her first of the game off a nice feed from Klodarska. Less than a minute later, King's regained its lead as Brianna Raucci got her first goal of what was a huge day for the freshman to make it 3-2 with 17:04 to go in the first half.

After a turnover by Juniata caused by junior Kelly Pierce, the Monarchs took advantage as Bailey Jordan tallied on a free position shot, her fourth of the season to make it 4-2. The 5-0 run for the Monarchs would finish with another Raucci goal on an assist from McCarthy to make it 6-2 with 7:52 left in the first. The hosts would tack on one more before the break, sending the game into halftime with the score 6-3 in favor of KC.

After halftime, Natalie Gibson pulled the Eagles to within two at 6-4 on a man-up goal with 24:46 to play. On the next possession, Juniata nearly made it a one-goal game, but sophomore Orla Cottell made a nice save. Following turnovers by both teams, freshman Emily Sims would get the offensive unit going for the Monarchs with her first of the game to make it 7-4.

The two teams exchanged goals over the next few minutes, but with the score 8-5 the Monarchs would go on a run that would put the game away. McCarthy scored at 15:42 of the game from Klodarska, which ignited a stretch of seven straight scores for the Monarchs. During the span, King's scored four goals over 2:24, thanks to four straight draw control wins.

Sims would finish the run that she started with her second goal of the game and 13^th of the season to make it 15-5. That would be plenty for King's, which picked up its third win of the year. The Monarchs outshot their hosts 37-15 on the day, while possessing 19 of the 23 draw controls on the day.

It was a breakout game for Raucci, who finished the game with four goals on four shots. The freshman came into the game with two goals on the season, as she tripled her season total Wednesday. McCarthy and Klodarska each had three assists to lead King's, while Klodarska finished with two goals and seven shots as well.

The young Monarchs also saw Sims post two goals and an assist in addition to four draw controls, and Pierce finished with two draw controls and a caused turnover. Cottell allowed six goals but posted seven stops and a caused turnover in the win.

The Monarchs will be back in action this weekend, hosting Ramapo College for the 2019 Cross out Cancer Game in McCarthy Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre, PA.