PITTSTON, PA (November 10, 2023) -- It was a tied game heading into the final period, but the visiting Neumann University out scored the King's College men's ice hockey team, 4-2, in the third as the Monarchs fell, 7-5, in their home opener at the Revolution Ice Centre. King's drops to 1-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play, while the Knights improve to 1-3-0 and 1-2-0 in the UCHC.
 
The game was a battle from the start, but each team took advantage of their first power play opportunities as the score was knotted, 1-1, after the first. Aaron Frenkel found the net thanks to a great feed from Wyatt Allan and Kent Lee as King's (1-4-0, 1-2-0 UCHC) got on the board first 2:20 into the game. The Knights responded with their own power-play goal at the 4:09 mark, and each team had a fair share of opportunities down the stretch as the game remained tied, 1-1, after the first 20 minutes of action.
 
King's struck first in the second as Ethan Hersant intercepted a Knights pass to score a shorthanded goal with 15:49 to play in the second. Just 20 seconds later, the Knights found their equalizer before the end of the power-play stint, and an even-strength goal 1:27 later saw Neumann take their first lead of the game, 3-2. After a few close chances, the Monarchs found their opening as Brendan Krawczyk netted his tally in the game with 4:18 remaining in the period on a breakaway fed by Allan. The teams traded shots in the final minutes of the period as the game saw a 3-3 tie before the explosive third period.
 
Neumann fired off two quick goals in the first 2:01 of the third to jump ahead, 5-3. After a quick goalkeeper change for the Monarchs, their offense struck on a power play piece as Jayden Baldinelli and Hersant found Cameron Bauer in stride as King's closed within 5-4 with 14:44 to play.
 
Another man-up chance from the Knights proved costly for King's as Neumann tacked on their sixth score with 13:30 to go, but the Monarchs responded yet again after pushing the pace and testing the Knights defense. Baldinelli put up his tally with 3:21 left in the contest as Krawczyk and Mauro D'Alessandro swung the puck around to the open Bauer. King's pulled their goalkeeper to try and find their equalizer, but the Knights snuck in an empty net insurance goal with 9.6 ticks on the game clock before handing the Monarchs the 7-5 final at the Revolution Ice Centre on Friday night.
 
Hersant, Baldinelli, and Krawczyk each scored a goal and had an assist, with Hersant totaling 13 face off victories, while Allan posted two helpers in the loss. Frenkel tallied a team-best five shots, while Alexander Ray led King's in the face off circle with 14 wins on 25 attempts. Additionally, Casey Gerstein blocked two shots to lead the defense. In goal, Tyler Sayger posted 19 saves, while Diego D'Alessandro made three.
 
Yancy Whitaker led the Knights with a goal and two assists, while Cameron Hatziioannou had a score and a helper on a team-high tying four shots. Tyler Kulas won a team-best 14 face offs, while four different players blocked a shot. Cole DeFazio earned the win in the net with 28 saves.
 
As a team, the Monarchs held the edge in the shot column, 33-29, over the Knights while winning 37-of-79 face offs. Each team blocked four shots in the Friday-night battle.
 
King's will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon, hosting Neumann at 4:00 p.m. at the Revolution Ice Centre in the UCHC match up.