WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 27, 2021) -- The King's College women's lacrosse team picked up its first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Tournament victory in program history Tuesday evening, using a stifling defensive performance to propel the Monarchs to a 10-4 win over fifth-seed DeSales University in action from McCarthy Stadium in the MAC Freedom Quarterfinals. 

The Monarchs (4-6) came into the game 0-8 in previous MAC Tournament appearances, but playing its first home tournament game in program history proved to be just the medicine King's needed. With the win, King's will move on to play top-seed FDU-Florham Thursday at 4 p.m. in the MAC Freedom semifinals, after the Devils earning a 20-2 win over eight-seed Delaware Valley University Tuesday afternoon. 

King's wasted no time gaining the advantage Tuesday, scoring 37 seconds into the game as senior Kylie McCarthy fed junior Emily Sims for her first goal of the night to put the Monarchs up 1-0. From that point on though, the defensive units locked down combining to force 12 turnovers over the next 10 minutes. 

The hosts would double its lead 10:41 into the first half, as sophomore Vivian Williams caused a turnover, picked up the ground ball and fed Sims to start the fast break. The junior attacked and fed classmate Natasha Koslop, who beat the DSU goalkeeper for her eighth goal of the season. 

The Monarchs added to their lead with 17:07 to go in the first half, as McCarthy caught a nice feed inside from Mary Kate Klodarska, turned and fired to make it 3-0. The Bulldogs (3-8) got on the board just over 16 minutes into the game on a Marina Bradley goal, followed by a Tori Brennan tally to make it 3-2 with 7:30 remaining in the half. 

Just before the halftime intermission, Klodarska scored on an incredibly tight angle to make it 4-2 heading into the break. Sophomore Jessie Smalley was strong in the opening half for the Monarchs, stopping eight shots. 

In the second half, DeSales pulled to within one on another goal from Brennan 49 seconds into the stanza. Sims took over for King's from there, scoring three of the next four goals over an 18 minute stretch to make the score 8-3. That would be plenty for the Monarchs defense, forcing 13 second-half turnovers to cruise to the win. 

Sims finished with four goals and an assist on eight shots, tallying five ground balls, two caused turnovers and three draw controls for an all-around strong game. McCarthy had her best game of the season with two goals, an assist, four ground balls and two caused turnovers as well. 

Klodarska tallied two goals and an assist, upping her career point total to 97, and Lehman dished out two assists in addition to three ground balls. The defensive unit was littered with stars Tuesday, as Williams and Helen Zaremba each finished with three caused turnovers. Williams also tallied four ground balls, while first-year Sarah McCormick picked up two loose balls. 

Smalley stopped 76.5 percent of the shots on target Tuesday, making 13 saves while allowing four goals. King's outshot their visitors 29-21 and forced DeSales into 11 failed clears. Bradley and Brennan each finished with a pair of goals to lead DSU, while Rachel Sheubrooks made seven saves.