ALTOONA, PA (September 6, 2019) --- Senior captain August Axtman led the King's College men's soccer team to a great start to their first road trip of the year with two goals, including the game-winning goal, in a 5-2 victory over Penn State Altoona on Friday night at Spring Run Stadium in Altoona.

The Monarchs (1-1-0) got off to a great start in the very physical match as they were able to draw a corner kick in the opening minute of play. The host Lions (0-4-0) were able to kick Nik Verma's play into the box away and did not allow a shot. The Monarchs kept the pressure up and earned another corner in the ninth minute. This time the Lions were not as lucky as their attempted clear went right to the leg of Fabio Massa right in the middle of the box. Massa unleashed a strike into the back of the net for his first goal of the year and seventh of his career giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead 8:32 into the match.

King's increased their lead to 2-0 in the 23rd minute after Alastair Dinnan drew a clear path foul right outside the box. Nik Verma stepped up for the direct free kick and dilled the ball into the bottom left corner for the first goal of his career. A couple minutes later Pat Holton nearly scored another goal for King's off a corner by Kyle Shalvey, but his attempt just went right of the net. Massa had a great chance for his second goal following an excellent crossing pass from the right side by Axtman, but his shot sailed high of the goal.

Penn State Altoona managed to cut the lead in half in the 33rd minute when Brant Aughenbaugh sent a pass up the left side of the field to Seif Magd. Magd then chipped a shot from the left wing that fell just inside the far post. The Monarchs wasted little time after the goal and drove the ball right down the field with Shalvey finding space for a shot within 30 seconds of the goal. His attempt banged off the keeper and out for a corner kick. Shalvey found Jacob Hopfenspirger, who had just subbed into the match, at the top of the box on the corner. Hopfenspirger ripped a shot from the top of the box that the Lion keeper was just able to keep out of the net. A couple minute later Shalvey dribbled around a few defenders and then missed high from the top of the box. KC kept the intensity up to close out the half but were unable to find the back of the net. In the first half the Monarchs did a great job at controlling possession by completing a high percentage of passes around the pitch.

The second half started very similar to the first for King's as they marched the ball down the field and earned a corner in the first minute. The Lions were able to knock the corner kick away, but King's got the ball right back and Axtman just missed high from the top of the box after a failed clear. King's just missed high again a few minutes later when Kevin Kolaski headed a free kick from Shavley just over the bar. Penn State Altoona was able to even the score up in the 53rd minute following a corner kick. The kick from the right side deflected off multiple players before landing at the feet of Connor Kiley who chipped it past the keeper for his first goal of the year.

King's earned back-to-back corner kicks in the 59th minute but each time the Lions knocked the ball away. Late in the 60th minute a Monarch attacker drew a foul a little outside the right side of the box setting up a free kick. Dylan Ramage stepped up to take the kick and rocketed a ball into the box. Axtman was able to get a head on the ball redirecting it into the back of the net to give KC the lead back at 3-2.

Axtman nearly doubled the lead at the 72-minute mark with a header off a corner kick by Verma. His header got past the keeper and looked destined for the upper left before a Lion defender stepped in front of the goal and knocked the shot away. In the 76th minute KC was able to double the lead to 4-2 following a nice combination play. A Monarch dribbled around a couple Lion defenders before passing to Ramage on the left wing. Ramage settled the ball and then sent a cross back to the right side when Alex Showalter received the ball and beat the keeper from 12 yards out. The goal was Showalter's second of his career while Ramage collected his second assist of the match. The Monarchs were not done scoring as David Crowley drew a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick in the 87th minute. Axtman calmly stepped up and scored his second goal of the match and third of the season.

Axtman equaled his career high in goals scored with two while scoring his 12th career penalty kick goal and seventh career game-winning goal. The defender led the team with six shots including four on goal. Ramage was impressive with two assists as the freshman made his first career start. Pat Hughes got the win in goal for King's as he junior made his first career start.

The Monarchs will have little time to rest following the victory as they will be back in action tomorrow afternoon with a 2 pm kickoff against Juniata College from Gibbel Stadium in Huntingdon.