WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 25, 2019) --- Freshman Kristina Keithley scored the first two goals of her career in a two-minute span to lead the King's College women's soccer team to a 4-3 victory over visiting Alvernia University on Wednesday evening from McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.

The Monarchs took a very early lead as Emily Harrington put home her third goal of the year into the lower right just 2:46 into the contest. King's (4-4-0) kept the early pressure on the Golden Wolves (3-5-0) earning three corner kicks in the first eight minutes of play. AU keeper Lily Sankey was able to make saves on shots by Grace Conover and Abby Castle to keep the score at 1-0. In the 23rd minute KC changed that as Bekah Araujo scored her third goal of the year. Breanna Jacinto started the attacked with a beautiful pass down the left side to a streaking Harrington. Harrington one touched the ball before sending a cross into the box to Araujo giving the Monarchs a two-goal advantage.

KC had a strong first half scoring two goals and outshooting the Golden Wolves 8-3. They were also able to take four corner kicks to just one for AU. In the second half Grace Silva cut into the Monarch lead as she was able to sneak a long distance strike just under the crossbar for her second goal of the year in the 54th minute.

King's responded in the 64th minute as Keithley scored her first goal of the match off a corner kick. The Monarchs sent the corner kick from the right side into the box where a couple of AU defenders unsuccessfully attempted to clear the ball. Keithley was able to get a foot on the ball and knocked it into the back of the net to extend the Monarchs lead. Almost exactly two minutes later the freshman forward would strike again as she intercepted a Alvernia pass and scored on a breakaway attempt from the top left of the box.

Alvernia would not go away quietly however as Lauren Gough snuck a header into the upper right off a corner kick by Jenna Wentling in the 70th minute. The Golden Wolves would earn another corner kick a couple minutes later and score again to cut the KC lead to 4-3 with just over 15 minutes remaining. Kyla Gibson tallied her second goal of the upper after putting away a loose ball that deflected off a couple of Monarch defenders in the box.

The Monarchs defense held the Wolves to just two shots that went high and wide over the last 17 minutes to hold on the victory. Alvernia used a 9-2 shot advantage in the second half to outshoot the Monarchs 12-10 for the match while each team took five corner kicks.

Keithley scored her two goals while taking just two shots while Harrington finished with a goal and an assist. Jacinto recorded her team-leading fourth assist of the year while Araujo scored her fourth career goal. Erica Blackburn improved to 3-2-0 in goal while making two saves.

King's will return to the pitch on Saturday with a road trip down the Northeast Extension to Aston, PA where they will face Neumann University with a 1 pm kickoff on the Knight's Turf Field.