WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 3, 2023) -- For the first time in front of their home crowd in 2023, the King's College field hockey team faced second-quarter struggles that proved costly as they dropped a 5-0 decision to Keystone College on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Monarchs fall to 0-2, while the Giants remain unbeaten at 2-0.
 
Keystone (2-0) controlled the contest early, firing off eight shots in the first 15 minutes to just one from Ashley Thalassinos, but the King's (0-2) defense held steady as they wrapped up the first quarter scoreless, 0-0. The visiting Giants finally capitalized in the costly second quarter, netting three goals off four shots as the Monarchs trailed, 3-0, at the halftime break.
 
The third quarter remained in favor of the Giants, seeing the visitors add on another score, but the Monarchs came alive in the fourth to try and stage a comeback effort. King's came out of the break firing off over the first 1:12 of the period, but each effort was met with a response from Keystone. The Monarchs would battle till the final buzzer before falling, 5-0, at McCarthy Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Thalassinos and Emma Clark each totaled two shots with one on target in the loss, while Emma Bealla had the remaining shot for King's. Grace Venis made two saves in the complete-game effort in the cage.
 
Miranda Mascia led Keystone with two goals and two assists off three shots, while Hannah Osbahr tallied two saves in the first half for the Giants.
 
King's will head out for a three-game road stretch, first traveling up to take on the University of Scranton on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.