WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 31, 2021) – When the King's College field hockey team takes to the field at Wednesday evening at Cedar Crest College, it will be the first time that the Monarchs compete in an NCAA sanctioned event in 672 days. 672 days. It seems like longer to some though, but much has changed since that 3-0 loss to DeSales University to end the 2019 season.

Due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, the entire fall season in 2020 was cancelled and while some exhibition games in the spring season allowed the Monarchs to honor their seniors it wasn't the full on season many had come accustomed to competing in.
Sadly, players like Bailey DeLellis, Annie Ryan, Hannah Robbins and Jolee Treslar never got the shot to finish out their careers on their terms. They will be missed in 2021, but the mark those four left on the program will continue to influence future Monarchs.

Back to the 2021 squad and things that will look familiar, and King's does have a strong contingent of seniors this year with six back to help lead the way. Of that group, four have been mainstays in the starting lineup while Danielle Runo is coming off an All-Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) season back in 2019 when she led the team with 11 goals.

With Lexi Prowker anchoring the defensive unit, Emily Sims in the midfield and Runo and Bailey Jordan up front, it's a team that has a great mix of leadership, production, and experience throughout the team. Despite that head coach Martha Kerrick, now in her sixth year as head coach, has mentioned all the way during preseason that the depth is evident on this team.

"I think that we have 20 players on our team right now that could be immediate starters," said Kerrick. "When you have that type of competition going on every day in practice, it makes everyone better and we've been fortunate to see that this fall."

With the amount of talent on the squad, the big questions will be how fast do the sophomores and first-year players gel with the existing players in games that matter? Also, how will the intensity be for the teams after such a long layoff? Good thing is, we'll find out September 1. A full team breakdown position is below.

FORWARDS
The Monarch forward unit returns three players from 2019 including its two top scorers in Danielle Runo and Sara Whitesell, as the pair combined to tally 15 times for the Monarchs that season. Runo was one of the MAC Freedom's top point contributor that season en route to Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom, as she potted 11 goals and two assists for 24 points. Her 38 shots were second on the squad to only Treslar, while she scored one of King's five game-winners on the season.

Whitesell was a sparkplug off the bench for King's as a first-year player, as she used her strong stick work on the edge of the circle well to create scoring opportunities. As she matured into the season, she began to get more playing time as she finished with six goals. Whitesell is back for her junior campaign, and looks strong so far in preseason.

Bailey Jordan played and started in all 18 games as a sophomore in 2019 and tallied a goal and three assists, but was consistently in good scoring positions. Jordan is also the inserter for penalty corners, so if King's can run their free plays with precision, look for Jordan to get both more assists and chances on the pads and post for tallies of her own.

Junior Jessie Smalley is also back after a strong first season with King's, as she started in three of her 18 games played while posting four goals and two assists. Smalley is great around the net with her stick, and could be the best on the team in terms of tips and deflections, so look for her goal total to rise this year.

The Monarchs also will bring in reinforcements this season to the front line, as sophomores Olivia Benner and Veronica Fenton join newcomers Jessica Dzoch and Emma Clark as forwards. Clark, who plays ice hockey at King's as well, is speedy and quick and her work rate will be huge for King's in the press up front.

Benner is very athletic as well and could compete for minutes on the front line, while Fenton has the luxury of playing with the squad for a season and understands the concepts and offense well going into her sophomore year. Dzoch also can play midfield for the Monarchs, and her versatility will be what gets her into games as a first-year player.

This group will be looking to improve on the 35 goals scored in 2019, which was the second-fewest for the King's in the last seven seasons.

MIDFIELD
The midfield group has a strong nucleus to work with this season, as Emily Sims returns as the center midfielder having started all 18 games back in 2019. Sims can excel in all three positions on the field, and her ability to transition the ball from the defensive backfield to the front with drives and her dribbling skills will be hugely important.

Returning as well in the midfield this season as a junior is Vivian Williams, who can play some forward in addition to her duties as an outside midfielder. Williams is a crafty winger and understands the offensive concepts well going into her junior season. The Maryland native appeared in 17 games as a first-year player, and she should continue to get a strong amount of playing time this season.

The Monarchs will have a lot of new faces in the midfield this year, trying to take over the roles that were vacated by former captain and All-MAC Freedom performer Hannah Robbins. Sophomores Abby Wolfe, Mackenzie Casey, and Abby Achenbach have both played very well in preseason and should contribute immediately. The trio played well last spring, and have continued that into the preseason in 2021.

King's was also very fortunate to bring in a transfer from Division I Hofstra University this summer, as Ali Tedik returns to Wilkes-Barre to play for her older sister's alma mater. Former King's goalkeeper Paige Tedik was a standout for the Monarchs in goal, but her younger sister will take her spot in the middle of the field and will be a huge asset all over the field.

First-year player Hannah Chocallo is another strong addition to the team this fall, as she brings a ton of club and prep experience to the roster. Chocallo is a presence on the field with her 6-0 frame, and her stick work is among the best on the squad in open space. She will add depth to a unit that should be both deep and talented in 2021.

DEFENSE
The Monarchs strength over the years has been their ability to stop teams defensively, and this year that trend looks like it could continue thanks to a unit that has both experience, skill, and athleticism. King's is fortunate to have three seniors as part of the defensive contingent, including a three-year starter in captain Lexi Prowker. Prowker started 17 games as a sophomore, and she will be relied on as a lynchpin this season on the outside of the defensive line. Fellow senior Kim Camacho will finally get her chance to wear the red and gold after transferring in the spring of 2020 from Wilkes University. Camacho is very smart, has great awareness and should bolster the outside of the defensive unit as well.

Senior Kristen Mahon is in her third year with the program, and her hard work and dedication to the team has shown through as she has had a good fall camp. She understands defensive schemes and breakdowns, and her leadership in helping bring in the newcomers will strengthen the entire group.

Three sophomores and a first-year player should also help on the backline as well, as Wolfe, Ashley Thalassinos and Sarah Zaleppa each have shown the ability to step in immediate and help the Monarchs.

Wolfe is very versatile and can play many positions for the Monarchs, while Thalassinos has impressed immediately after taking a year off from field hockey as a first-year. Thalassinos is quick, physical and has great length which makes her a prototypical defender at this level. Zaleppa is another player that had a brief hiatus from field hockey, but she also is great with the ball on her stick and has good vision both on the outside defensive and wing spots.

First-year Abby Varzaly can play outside back as well for the Monarchs, while sliding into the midfield due to her quickness and speed. Tedik also can play back as well for the Monarchs, though her ability on the ball will see her more suited for the midfield and forward spots most likely.

GOALKEEPING
For the third consecutive season, King's heads into the season with one goalkeeper on the roster, but luckily the Monarchs have consistently had one of the stronger netminders in the MAC Freedom and that won't change this season.

Sophomore Ellie Glatz didn't get a chance to showcase her skills as a first-year, but the 5-7 keeper from Exeter, PA has been strong in the preseason for King's. The former All-State high school prep stand out is aggressive, moves well, works her angles efficiently and likes to come out and challenge shooters. She's also athletic enough to get on the ground to make saves and is great with her stick around the cage. Look for her to have a great year in cage for the Monarchs under goalkeeping coach Megan Withrow.

SCHEDULE
The Monarchs play five of their first six games on the road in 2021, so the only chance to see King's field hockey in their home red uniforms over the first three weeks of the season will come Saturday, September 4 against Neumann University at 5 p.m.
King's will make trips to Cedar Crest, University of Scranton, Immaculata University, Susquehanna University and Drew University before hosting Keystone College Tuesday, September 21 at 7 p.m. in the final game before MAC Freedom action starts. In addition to the conference slate, King's will also host Moravian University and Marywood University in non-conference play.

--

For more information, make sure to log onto King's College official online home at www.kingscollegeathletics.com, and follow King's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the handle @kingsmonarchs.