WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 5, 2021) -- The King's College women's lacrosse game just over one year ago had just finished its best performance of the season down in our Nation's Capital, playing one of the best teams in Virginia to a tight 15-13 loss at Marymount University in Arlington, PA. When speaking to head coach Ashley Stevens, now entering her fifth season with the Monarchs, she mentioned how the team had slowly been coming together and that the performance that day was evidence of great things to come. 11 days later, the nation was stricken with a pandemic that shut down the country, and with it the 2020 King's women's lacrosse season. 

A year later, the Monarchs come into the 2021 abbreviated season hoping that some of the momentum from that March 2, 2020 game at Marymount can roll over into this season. Along with that, the hope is that players and coaches will see the fragility and unknown of every game and use that as fuel for motivation to do the little things to pick up wins. King's has a large contingent of last year's roster back in 2021, including its two high goal scorers while featuring six seniors that will prove as the leadership group this campaign. 

The one thing that will be different though is that there will be virtually two newcomer classes this season, as the first-year group from 2020 was only able to play in five games before the shutdown. Those five sophomores along with the three 2021 additions will look to get immediate playing time for the Monarchs, as King's will have a ton of spots up for grabs especially on the defensive unit. More than anything though, the players on the team are just thrilled to finally be back with their teammates and able to have some normalcy in a year that has been anything but. "We're just taking it one day at a time, we're really grateful that everyone at King's with our players, coaches, athletic trainers, staff has worked so hard to get us back on the field, so we're just hopeful, working hard and taking it one day at a time," said senior Kylie McCarthy. 

"My team has certainly learned not to take things for granted and to control the controllables," said Stevens. "This off season has been different for everyone. Training for the season had to be different. With most gyms being closed and not having access to facilities we all have had to get creative and do what we can. When life sends you obstacles, you need to be able to navigate and rise above in order to find our way. We can't control what is happening around us and need to remember how we react is what we control."  

When talking to fellow captain and junior Jennifer O'Connor, she mentioned a quote of "play every game like it's your last," that she had mentioned to the team. That quote, with everything that has gone on in the world as of late, is something this team of 18 will take to heart when it hits the field Saturday, March 6 at Lebanon Valley. "I don't think that any collegiate athletes needs to be told the importance of that quote, because we all experienced it," said O'Connor. "This was something we all lived through, not like an injury, and I know that my teammates and I want to take advantage of this opportunity that we've been given." 

The fact that a huge part of their seasons last year and career doesn't go unnoticed though, and so expectations and goals are still there for a team that is looking to make some noise in a new nine-team Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) field. "It's weird that while we're experienced, we're really not. Even me as a junior, I've only played one season so we're excited to get out there and see what we can do," said O'Connor. "I feel like once we got going last year, though our record didn't show it, we started to really click and we just never got a chance to redeem ourselves and we're hungry to get out and get that this year." 

"It's hard to say, but I think the main strength is the energy that the team seems to have brought this season," said Stevens. "We have a young defensive core this year made up of sophomores and freshmen. On the attacking end we have a lot of seniority, this group has been together for 2-3 years and love to play together. But watching the team mesh together and start picking up where we left off has been the highlight so far. When they are on, they are on and really fun to watch. Overall, we have a great group who are working hard to enjoy every minute of this season."

Position breakdown is below. 

ATTACK
The Monarchs are hoping for a free-flowing offensive unit that has multiple players that both assist on and score goals, and thanks to a very experienced attack group King's should be able to be efficient when in their own third. King's returns a All-MAC Freedom honoree from back in 2019 in Emma Lehman, when she scored a career-best 34 goals and has shown the ability to be a threat from both behind the net, dodging and catching and shooting. Fellow senior Kylie McCarthy started slow in 2020 but was starting to hit her stride when the season came to a close last year, but does have a strong resume with 31 points as a sophomore including 17 goals and 14 assists. He quickness and fearlessness is something that will be vital this year on attack. 

Junior Bailey Jordan is back as well after starting all 19 games as a first-year student in 2019. Jordan, who also stars for the Monarch field hockey team, had 11 points in her first year and will look to match or best that number in 2021. Classmate Natasha Koslop has been through some injury issues, but when healthy she is one of the most dangerous snipers in all of the conference. Koslop saw her 2019 campaign ended after seven games with nine goals including a game-winner, and then last year in four games as a reserve tallied four times including a game-winning goal at Gwynedd Mercy. The junior from Crestwood could be a wild card for King's as a goal scorer and facilitator. 

Newcomer Liv Benner comes to King's as a late addition, but has a strong lacrosse background and has shown eagerness and excitement to learn and grow. Her athleticism should help immediately in 2021 and beyond as her potential to grow into a big role for King's is definitely apparent. 

MIDFIELD
One could argue that the midfield group for the Monarchs is one of the most explosive in the MAC Freedom, and when you look at the personnel it's hard to argue against that. King's brings back four midfielders this season that have played a huge role over the last three-plus years, led by junior captain Jennifer O'Connor. The Gilbertsville, PA native set multiple first-year scoring records back in 2019 on the way to 78 points on 51 goals and 27 assists. She also set the single-season record for draw controls in a season with 115, and tallied 37 caused turnovers and 50 ground balls. The former All-MAC Freedom Second Team honoree will a huge part of both the offensive and defensive units. 

Senior Mary Kate Klodarska was off to her best season at King's in 2020 before the shutdown, thanks to an unwavering work ethic and determination to get to the net. Klodarska has started all 42 games at King's and has posted 47 goals and 74 points as she chalked up over two goals per game in 2020 in five games. The senior has the swagger and ability to get her shot off from anywhere while her athleticism in the midfield allows her to get to goal quickly. Look for Klodarska to pick up right where she left off in 2021. 

Speaking of hard workers, none may be as hard of a worker on the field in the midfield than junior Emily Sims. The two-sport athletes known for her gritty battles for ground balls and strong takes to the net also possesses some soft hands around the net and some of the best vision on the squad. Sims missed a few games for King's in 2020, but was a mainstay in the midfield in 2019 when she posted 36 points on 27 goals and nine assists. Even more impressive were her 42 ground balls and 46 draw controls, as she played consistently on the circle while boxing out to earn possession off draws. 

Another foundation for the Monarchs in the midfield will be sophomore Celia Medina, who comes into her sophomore year after showing a lot as a first-year player. Medina is a very athletic and sound midfielder and was just starting to put everything together right as the season was cut short, as she finished with five goals, eight ground balls and seven draw controls. Medina can also play some attack, and her scoring touch was on rounding into form during the last two games of 2020 when she tallied twice each at Marymount and Susquehanna. 

DEFENSE
For the past four seasons, it's been pretty easy for Stevens to make out her lineup card on the defensive side of the ball as 2020 graduates Kelly Pierce, Mia Dardanelli and Jennifer Smalley started and played every game they each played in over their four seasons at King's. With all three having departed, figuring out who is going to step into those roles has helped grow competition at those spots. While the group may be a little younger, there is no void of talent on the backend for King's while still returning a few players that have had a chance to play in games and find their place. Also, there are two familiar faces that are back with the program after a brief hiatus. 

Seniors Helen Zaremba and Chloe Rizzo did not play in 2020, but have returned for their senior seasons to help bolster the defensive unit with strong leadership and experience. Zaremba played in 18 games in 2019, starting 13 times while picking up nine ground balls and adding nine caused turnovers, while Rizzo started three games and saw action in seven games in 2019 after an injury in 2018. The pairing can be very effective as leaders and contributors this season as they look to head out on a strong note. 

The Monarchs had three sophomore defenders in 2020 that got time defensively, including two that started contests before the end of the campaign. Maryland product Vivian Williams was sound and steady as a backliner for the Monarchs, as she tallied three ground balls and two caused turnovers, while classmate Brynn Pike also is athletic with a good stick and should prove to be a shutdown player for King's in the coming years. Second-year player Mackenzie Rockovich has looked solid in preseason workouts as well, as she picked up one ground ball as a newcomer last season and will look for more playing time in 2021. 

King's does also have a local product that has been a standout in the Wyoming Valley area defensively in Sarah McCormick. McCormick was a Wyoming Valley Conference First Team All-Star in 2019 and should help bolster for defensive unit for King's into the future. 

GOALKEEPERS
The Monarchs will have the luxury of having three capable goalkeepers in 2021, including two have have had a strong amount of experience heading into the season. The goalkeeper group should also help a young and inexperienced defensive unit as a calming presence behind them. 

Senior Orla Cottell has started 42 games in her career, getting the starting nod in all five games last year as a junior while making 34 saves. Cottell was an All-MAC Freedom honoree as a sophomore when she posted a .430 save percentage, while breaking the school record for saves with 202. Joining her between the pipes as another solid option is sophomore Jessie Smalley, who brings a different style to the cage. Smalley has a ton of potential as a netminder, and has been strong during the preseason thanks to her athleticism. 

The third option for King's is another local NEPA player, as Sidney Horvath comes to King's after a fantastic career at Abington Heights. She was voted as the Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Star as a junior while helping her team tot he 2019 PIAA State Tournament. Another good athlete, Horvath will be plenty capable when she earns her shot between the sticks. 

SCHEDULE
King's will open the season with back-to-back Saturday road games at its two MAC crossover schools in Lebanon Valley and York University, before opening MAC Freedom play March 17 at home against Misericordia University. King's will play just four home games in 2021, hosting Delaware Valley University, DeSales University and Stevens Institute of Technology. The full schedule is HERE.