SELINSGROVE, PA (February 25, 2023) --- The Kings's College men's lacrosse team finished off their season-opening two game road trip on Saturday, as the Monarchs fell to host Susquehanna University 19-6 in Selinsgrove. With the loss, King's falls to 0-2, while Susquehanna improves to 3-1.
 
Susquehanna (3-1) started quickly, totaling four goals inside the opening three minutes of the contest. Brennan Lorence opened the scoring at 14:16, before Jack Gaillard scored at 13:38 to put the River Hawks up 2-0. Susquehanna extended their lead to four, with two goals in the span of 47 seconds, the first coming at 12:48 from Chris Ciccarello, with the second coming from Kieran Koenke at 12:01. The River Hawks tallied a fifth goal, before King's (0-2) got on the board. Sophomore Ben Spencer found the back of the net with 5:08 to play in the first quarter, cutting the deficit to 5-1. The River Hawks tallied once more in the opening frame, taking a 6-1 lead after 15 minutes.
 
The River Hawks once again scored four quick goals to start the second quarter, before sophomore EJ Schreiner cut the Susquehanna lead to 10-2 at 10:27. The River Hawks went on another four goal run, before first-year Chris O'Mara tallied his first collegiate goal with 4:16 to play. Susquehanna ended the half with three more goals, to take a 17-3 lead at the break.
 
Neither team found the back of the net in the third quarter, as the score remained 17-3 heading to the fourth. The Monarchs cut into the River Hawk lead, tallying two goals in the opening five minutes of the frame. Sophomore Jack Wall scored at 13:16, before collecting a second goal at 10:42 to make it a 17-5 game. Susquehanna scored twice more, before Spencer notched his second goal of the game at 4:57 to make the score 19-6.
 
Senior Matt Wall got the start in the cage, finishing with eight saves in the first half, before being replaced by senior Joe Plachcinski, who finished with six saves. Offensively, the Monarchs were led by Jack Wall who recorded three points on two goals and an assist, while Spencer added two goals. King's won six of 29 face-offs, led by junior Geno Casciello who won five of 20. The Monarchs caused seven turnovers, led by first-year Logan Byers, O'Mara, and Spencer, who all forced two, while King's went 2-4 while a man down, and 0-3 while a man up.
 
Auggie Granatelli got the start in goal stopping five shots. Ciccarello paced the River Hawks, totaling eight points on three goals and five assists, while Lorence added six points on five goals and an assist. Susquehanna won 23 of 29 face-offs, while going 2-4 on man up opportunities and 3-3 when a man down, causing 13 Monarch turnovers.
 
King's returns home for the 2023 home opener, as the Monarchs host Messiah on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.