BUFFALO, NY (October 27, 2023) -- Patrick Nowak put the Monarchs on the board, and Casey Gerstein tied the game, but two third-period goals from the host Buffalo State University saw the King's College men's ice hockey team fall in their season opener, 4-2, in the Buffalo State Bengals Classic on Friday night. With the loss, the Monarchs begin the 2023-24 season 0-1-0, while the Bengals are 1-0-0.
 
The King's (0-1-0) defense held off an early Buffalo State (1-0-0) attack until the 16^th minute when the Bengals found the net on a power play opportunity to finish the opening period with the Monarchs trailing, 1-0.
 
The hosts struck again for their second power play goal 8:51 into the second period, but 1:18 of action later Michael Harrel Jr. and Ethan Hersant connected with Nowak to put King's on the board to close within 2-1 midway through the second. King's continued to control the pace, holding a 16-4 edge in shots for the period before capitalizing on a power play in the 17^th minute as Gerstein was assisted by Aaron Frenkel and Jakub Viedemann to knot the score at 2-2 after an exciting first two periods.
 
It was a closely contested third that saw each team take a crack at breaking the stalemate, but it was the host Bengals that took charge, scoring an even-strength goal in the 13^th minute to take a 3-2 advantage. King's continued to pester the Buffalo State goal, but after pulling Tyler Sayger to try and find their equalizer the Bengals found the back of the net for an insurance tally with 44 seconds remaining as the Monarchs fell, 4-2, in their 2023-24 season opener at Buffalo State on Friday evening.
 
Both Gerstein and Nowak scored their goals on two shots a piece, while Mauro D'Alessandro led King's with five shots. Hersant picked up a point with his assist while recording a team-high 10 face off victories, and Frenkel had an assist to go along with a team-best two blocks. Additionally, Jayden Baldinelli posted three shots to help lead the offensive attack for King's. Sayger had a strong outing in the net, making 24 saves with 14 coming in the first period.
 
Parker Allison scored twice on a team-high tying six shots with three blocks to lead the Bengals, while Joe Glamos tallied a game-high 11 face off wins. Marcus Cumberworth picked up the win in goal, recording 26 saves for Buffalo State.
 
The shot totals in the game were notched at 28 a piece, and King's tallied 31 wins in the face off circle throughout the contest.
 
The Monarchs will be back on the ice for the consolation game of the Buffalo State Bengals Classic at the Buffalo State Ice Arena. Action is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. against Arcadia University.