READING, PA (Jan.  26. 2024) - - King's College men's ice hockey fell short to the Alvernia Golden Wolves 4-1 in the first game of a United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) two-game series at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex. Alexander Ray was the lone goal scorer of the evening for the Monarchs. King's is now 7-11-0 overall and 6-7-0 in UCHC play this season. 

The Monarchs and Golden Wolves battled head-to-head for a majority of the first period on the hunt to find the back of the net and the Monarchs were the first to find it. At exactly 13 minutes into the game, Ray scored in power play and was assisted by Kent Lee and Aaron Frenkel. Despite Alvernia's attempt to add a goal of their own to the scoreboard, the Golden Wolves were unsuccessful and King's ended the first period with a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Wolves found their way shortly into the second period when they tied the game 1-1 just over six minutes into play. Alvernia took the lead for the rest of the game shortly after when the team scored its second goal of the evening nearly two minutes after its first. Despite the two goals, Tyler Sayger still managed to tally 16 saves in goal in the second period alone. King's entered the final 20 minutes of play trailing Alvernia 2-1. 

The Golden Wolves came out hungry for more from puck drop and scored their third goal of the evening just 1:33 minutes into the final period. Despite the Monarchs attempt to come back with 19 shots in the last 20 minutes of play, they were unable to capitalize on their offensive opportunities. Alvernia scored its game winning goal on an empty net with just 45 seconds on the clock to win the game 4-1 over King's.

Sayger had a season-high 38 saves in goal for the Monarchs despite the scoreboard, and the Monarchs tallied 12 blocks on defense as a unit. Mauro D'Alessandro led King's defense with 3 blocks, followed by two each from Mikey Harrel Jr., Jayden Baldinelli, and Erik Borschevsky. The Monarchs went 44-33 in face offs against Alvernia.

The Monarchs get a chance at redemption tomorrow, Jan. 27, at 7pm again against the Golden Wolves in their home rink, Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, in Reading, PA for the second game of this UCHC and MAC series.