PITTSTON, PA (Jan. 5, 2024) - - Despite attempting to make a third period comeback, King's College women's ice hockey lost 4-3 against Stevenson University at the Monarchs' home rink, Revolution Ice Centre, this evening. This was the first of a United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) two-game series versus the Mustangs. 

The Monarchs came onto the ice fiercely at the start of the game as Maddie Vaughan scored the first goal of the night within 21 seconds of puck drop. She was assisted by Emma Dos Santos and Amanda Sokol. King's held on to its 1-0 lead for nearly five minutes before the Mustangs scored their equalizer. Stevenson continued to build on its offensive momentum and scored two more times before the end of the period, once around the eight minute mark and again 13 minutes into play. The Mustangs ultimately went into the second period with a 3-1 lead over the Monarchs.

A majority of the second period remained scoreless for both teams until Vaughan notched her second goal of the night 16:31 minutes in during power play and was assisted yet again by Sokol with the help of Aspen Wallin this time around. Vaughan's goal was the lone one of the second period and put King's within one point of Stevenson, who went into the final period of play with a 3-2 lead.

The first half of the third period was scoreless yet again, but after an extended timeout for injury Stevenson scored what ultimately being its game-winning goal 12:30 mark. The Monarchs continued to battle and Dos Santos scored her first goal of the night with three minutes left in the game with the help of Brighton Wallin and Abby Barlocker to make it a one-point game again. Unfortunately King's did not find the back of the net a fourth time to tie things up and go into overtime, so Stevenson defeated King's 4-3.

Syd Dahl led the Monarchs' defense in goal with 25 saves while Brighton Wallin added two blocks. Issy Lebrun led King's in face off wins as she earned 12 of the team's 28. 

The Monarchs and Mustangs both return to Revolution Ice Centre tomorrow, Jan. 6, for game two of their UCHC and MAC series with a 1 pm puck drop.