ALLENTOWN, PA (September 2, 2021) -- Sophomore Sarah Zaleppa knocked in a rebound off a Jessie Smalley shot 6:42 into overtime to lift the King's College field hockey team to a 3-2 season-opening win over Cedar Crest College in action from the FalconPlex Thursday evening. 

The Monarchs (1-0) jumped on the board early in the first quarter as King's completed a strong passing play from the midfield. After a Cedar Crest foul, senior Emily Sims fed a ball to sophomore Ali Tedik on the right wing. Tedik threaded a pass through to Smalley at the top of the circle, who dribbled five yards and hammered a shot past the right pad of the Falcon keeper for a 1-0 lead at 5:14. 

King's kept the pressure on over the next few minutes, and doubled the lead at 12:30 of the game as first-year midfielder Hannah Chocallo slotted home a shot off a pass in front by Danielle Runo for the 2-0 KC lead. 

The second quarter was played mostly in the midfield, as King's best opportunity of the period came just 46 seconds into the second when Sara Whitesell had her attempt saved by Brynn Rifino. The King's lead would stay at two going into the halftime intermission. 

The hosts would come out of the halftime break with a renewed spirit, posting a pair of goals in the third quarter to tie the game at two. Ashley Large scored at 35:04 of the game to make it 2-1, and Kiley Marone scored just six minutes later to make it 2-2. That's where the score would stay until overtime. 

In the extra stanza, the Monarchs has three great chances to score, finally breaking through in the 67th minute of the game. On a penalty corner, Smalley had a good shot off on the wing from a pass from Tedik, and Zaleppa was there to knock the rebound in to the right side for the game-winner. 

The Monarchs outshot their hosts 15-10 on the night, including a 9-7 edge in shots on target. King's also had a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners, and sophomore Ellie Glatz made five stops in her first collegiate start for the Monarchs. 

Smalley finished with a team-high four shots en route to a goal and an assist, while Whitesell and Chocallo each posted two shots apiece for the Monarchs. 

King's will be right back at it, getting one day off before hosting Neumann University at 5 p.m. in the home opener for the Monarchs in McCarthy Stadium.