WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 17, 2022) -- With an electric home crowd in McCarthy Stadium on both senior day and Homecoming 2022 weekend, the King's College field hockey team started their MAC Freedom slate strong with a 2-1 win over cross-town rival Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Monarchs improve to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in the MAC Freedom, while the Colonels fall to 1-4 with an 0-1 conference mark.
 
Despite a dominant effort from the Monarchs in the opening minutes, out shooting the Colonels 7-1 and holding a 5-0 advantage in penalty corners, the teams finished the first quarter in a scoreless tie. After an exciting second period, Wilkes (1-4, 0-1 MAC Freedom) broke the scoring drought with just 2.9 seconds left in the half as Lauren Shiplett delivered on a penalty stroke to give the visitors the 1-0 lead heading into the break.
 
The third quarter was controlled by King's (2-4, 1-0 MAC Freedom) again, holding another 7-1 edge in shots, this time delivering on a penalty stroke taken by Sarah Zaleppa in the 35^th minute as she sliced her shot into the bottom left corner of the goal past the Colonels keeper to tie up the conference match up.
 
Just 1:34 later, a shot by Jessie Smalley was blocked, but Ali Tedik was there to provide the tally on the rebound to put the Monarchs ahead, 2-1. Each team had opportunities down the final minutes of the third, but King's maintained their 2-1 lead heading into the final stanza.
 
Neither team saw a great opportunity offensively in the final possessions with fouls dominating the action as King's cruised to a 2-1 win and a 1-0 start in MAC Freedom play.
 
Tedik and Zaleppa were both extremely efficient as they each totaled a goal on one shot, while Ashley Thalassinos paced the offense with four shots, including three on target. Smalley also added three shots of her own in the win. Ellie Glatz earned the win in net, posting four saves and allowing just one goal.
 
Lauren Shiplett led the Colonels with a goal on three shots, including two on goal, while Anmarie Lebron added two shots. Carly Eidle recorded a game-high five saves in the loss.
 
Overall, King's held a 15-7 edge in shots, with a 7-5 advantage in shots on target. The Monarchs also overpowered the Colonels 10-3 in penalty corners.  
King's will be on the road on Tuesday evening in a non-conference contest at Keystone College. Game action is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. in La Plume, Pa.