PITTSTON, PA (November 26, 2021) – Senior forward Michael DiSchiavi moved into a tie for the most career assists in King's men's ice hockey program history with his 20th career assist on Friday afternoon in a tough 2-1 loss to the visiting Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville at Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston.

The Monarchs and Mustangs played a very tight game in the second-ever meeting between the programs. Neither team were able to score in a very defensive first period with the teams trying to figure each other out. Morrisville struck first 1:14 into the second period as Jake Kaplan knocked in a rebound for his fourth goal of the season about halfway through the first power-play opportunity of the day for either side.

King's responded late in the period on their second power-play opportunity of the game as Jack Cooper knocked in a loose puck at 19:23 for his team-leading seventh goal of the year. Cooper won the faceoff and had his first shot attempt saved before DiSchiavi knocked the rebound back to Copper. The assist was the sixth of the year for DiSchiavi.

Kaplan scored the game-winner for the Mustangs 4:15 into the third period 45 seconds into a power-play opportunity as he knocked his own rebound into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the year. The Monarchs fought for the remainder of the game for the equalizer putting pressure of the Mustang defense late in the game after pulling the goalie for the final 1:35. Jakub Viedemann had two shots blocked before Copper had his attempt blocked. Kent Lee and Viedemann had shots saved. Tyler Blanchard and Casey Gerstein also had shots saved before Morrisville was able to win the final two faceoffs of the game in the last 10 seconds to hold on for the win.

Cooper led the Monarchs with five of the team's 27 shots while Gerstein had four. Patrick Nowak and Brett Dillon each won a team-high eight faceoffs while Jackson Grozelle blocked three of King's eight blocked shots. Matt Bidini had an excellent game in goal making his first collegiate appearance. He made 36 saves stopping 11 shots in the first period, 18 in the second, and seven in the third.

King's will look to rebound against the Mustangs tomorrow afternoon in a rematch of today's game up at Morrisville. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 pm at the Morrisville IcePlex.