WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 27, 2021) -- Junior Brendan Gambino tallied five times while the King's College men's lacrosse team outscored visiting FDU-Florham 9-5 in the middle quarters to provide the winning margin as the Monarchs earned their first win of the 2021 season with a 15-13 triumph from McCarthy Stadium Saturday. 

King's (1-5, 1-3 MAC Freedom) got some inspired play Saturday from its offensive unit, which eclipsed its previous season-high goal total of nine thanks to some great unselfish play. After FDU started the scoring at 11:21 on a Brian Stewart goal, Gambino tallied his first of the game on a face-off win feed from senior Trevor Douenias 11 seconds later to tie the game. 

Senior Michael O'Brien netted his sixth of the season with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter, but the Devils (1-5, 1-3 MAC Freedom) registered two in a row to make it 3-2 FDU with 4:22 to go in the opening stanza. The Monarchs themselves would rally back, as senior Gabe Vansuch netted his first of the day and then set up classmate Charlie Alessi for the 4-3 lead heading into the second. 

The visitors would tie the game on a man-up goal early in the second, but King's regained the lead for good on an unassisted goal from Alessi with 11:40 left in the second. KC would net four of the next five goals as well to take a 9-5 lead while taking a 9-6 edge into the locker room. 

King's continued its momentum in the third, as Gambino and Vansuch alternated goals over a four-minute stretch to push the Monarch lead up to six at 13-7. The hosts lead would hover around six after Paul Trabucco netted his first of the season, and King's withstood four late goals from Zane Johnston of FDU to earn the win. 

Offensively, Gambino finished with a career-high five goals, scoring on all five shots on goal while picking up five ground balls. Vansuch tied his career-high for goals in a game with four, and Alessi also tallied four points on a goal and three assists. Douenias had another all-around dominant game, tallying three assists while going 22-of-31 on face-offs with 15 ground balls. The 22 face-off wins were the most in a game ever at King's, besting his 20 face-off wins from the Alfred State win in 2020. 

O'Brien added two goals and Ryan Candelori also booked a goal and assist for King's, which held a slight 33-32 shot advantage. Defensively, sophomore Tyler Sindel posted five caused turnovers, and senior Patrick Burnham also forced three giveaways. First-year Alex Tristan was strong on the wing, adding five ground balls as well. Sophomore Jackson Campbell stopped nine shots in net for the Monarchs. 

Johnston tallied five goals and an assist to pace FDU-Florham, while Tyler Garcia also posted three goals and two assists. 

King's will have some time off before hosting Arcadia University Wednesday, April 7 in McCarthy Stadium in MAC Freedom play.