WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 14, 2019) --- It wasn't the result that the King's College faithful was hoping for, but the Monarch women's soccer team battled hard for 90 minutes against Albright College on Saturday evening in a 2-1 loss to the Lions from McCarthy Stadium.

The Monarchs (2-3-0) came out as the aggressors in the opening minutes as Natalie Poulton and Breanna Jacinto found space for shots that missed the net. Albright (4-2-0) responded with a pair of shots on goal in the 14th and 15th minutes that Monarchs keeper Tara Bender was able to corral for saves. The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when Autumn Bieber drove a direct kick from outside the box into the upper right for her team-leading fourth goal of the year. The rest of the first half was spent mostly in the middle of the field as both squads tried to control possession. The Monarchs won the possession battle in the first half controlling the ball 52 percent of the time. However, it was the Lions who had the lead on the scoreboard and in the shot count.

The second half started out very physical as two yellow cards, one to each team, was handed out for hard fouls in the first couple minutes. The Monarchs fought through the Lion physicality to even the score in the 48th minutes on a tap in goal from on the goal line by Kara Keim. Jacinto started the play with a shot from the right wing that Albright keeper Olivia Donkus saved but was unable to handle. Keim streaked in and knocked the loose ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the year and fourth of her career. The assist for Jacinto was her third of the year and fifth of her career.

AC responded quickly as Bieber put a shot on goal not long after the restart. The shot was right at Erica Blackburn who relieved Bender in net at the beginning of the half. Lauren Haley tested Blackburn in the 52nd minute but once again the freshman proved she was up to the task with a nice save on a shot to the lower right. The Lions would get the go-ahead goal in the 58th minute when Amanda Fulcher tallied her second goal of the year with a shot into the lower right from the middle of the box. The Lions were able to increase the lead to 3-1 in the 77th minute when Diza Hasanaj converted a penalty kick following KC getting called for a handball in the box.

Jacinto had two of King's six shots in the match while Keim, Poulton, Abby Castle, and Bekah Araujo added a goal each. Emily Harrington had a strong match for the Monarchs working the left side. The junior gave the Monarchs many great chances beating her defending and sending beautiful crosses into the box but unfortunately, the Monarchs were unable to convert on any the chances. Bender made three saves in goal in the first 45 minutes while Blackburn also made three saves in the final 45 minutes.

King's will return to the pitch on Wednesday afternoon with a road match at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 pm from J.E.Reeves Jr. Turf Field.