EDWARDSVILLE, PA (March 20, 2021) -- The King's College women's lacrosse trailed 4-2 after 12 minutes Saturday at host Wilkes University, but turned on the offense scoring 15 of the game's next 16 goals to cruise to its first win of the 2021 season in dominating 22-7 victory over its local rival in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action from Schmidt Stadium. 

The 22 goals for the Monarchs was the most in a game since posting 22 in the 2019 season opener against Gwynedd Mercy University, while the 15-goal victory was the largest margin of victory for King's since a 24-7 win in the 2018 season opener against GMU. Things didn't start out well though Saturday for the Monarchs, as the host Colonels (0-2, 0-1 MAC Freedom) scored four of the first six goals of the game including two from Camryn Devitt. 

King's would call a timeout after Wilkes' fourth goal, and that would prove to be the turning point of the game as King's (1-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) finished the first half on a 6-0 run, dominating possession and the score sheet. Junior Natasha Koslop started the run with a goal from senior Emma Lehman, and just over a minute later senior Kylie McCarthy finished a feed from Mary Kate Klodarska to tie the game at four. 

The Monarchs would regain the lead on a Celia Medina goal, and tallied woman-up goals from junior Jennifer O'Connor and Medina to take a 7-4 lead with 9:24 remaining in the opening half. Klodarska continued the scoring for King's to finish the first half, as she scored unassisted to send the game to halftime with the Monarchs leading 8-4. After the intermission, King's continued to pour on the goals while stifling the Colonels in the process. O'Connor started the half with another goal to finish the 7-0 run, but after Wilkes tallied for the first time in 23:16 of game time, King's rattled off another eight straight to take a 17-5 lead. 

During the 8-0 run, Lehman scored twice while junior Emily Sims and Klodarska each potted a pair of goals to help King's knock off their rival for the fourth straight year and fifth time in the last six seasons. The 15-goal win over Wilkes equaled the largest in the series, matching an 18-3 win for King's back in 2017. Klodarska had a career-game Saturday, as she chalked up a career-high eight points on a career-best four assists and four goals. Klodarska added four ground balls and two caused turnovers as well. 

O'Connor tied her career-high with six goals, while her 11 draw controls was a season-best and the second-most in a game in her career. She also passed 100 points for career, becoming the 13th player in program history to reach that plateau. Sims tallied three goals for the second straight contest, finishing with two assists, four ground balls and five draw controls, and Lehman added three goals, four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Medina registered her first career hat trick Saturday, adding two caused turnovers and three ground balls, and McCarthy was steady with a pair of goals. 

Defensively, the Monarchs were very sound and forced 23 turnovers on the day with eight different players earning a caused turnover. King's outshot Wilkes on the day 42-21, including a 32-13 shots on goal discrepancy and also scored on six of it's seven free-position shots. The Monarchs' 15 turnovers were a season-low as well. Sophomore keeper Jessie Smalley wasn't tested much but still was solid with six stops in net for King's. 

Devitt finished with four goals to lead Wilkes Saturday, while Ashley Coughlin made 10 saves in goal. 

King's will look to continue its momentum on Wednesday evening, hosting Delaware Valley University (0-4, 0-1 MAC Freedom) in McCarthy Stadium in more MAC Freedom play.