REISTERSTOWN, MD (Jan. 8, 2024) - - For the second time in program history, King's College men's ice hockey defeated a nationally-ranked team this afternoon when it upset No. 15 Stevenson University 5-3 on the Mustangs' home rink, Reisterstown Sportsplex. Four Monarchs scored in the historic win, including Aaron Frenkel –  who had two goals and an assist –  Ethan Hersant, Kent Lee, and Brendan Krawczyk, in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) match up. With this win, the Monarchs also move up to first in MAC conference rankings.

The Monarchs came out strong offensively right from the puck drop as Lee took the first shot of the game just 24 seconds into play, but quickly had to transition to defense as the Mustangs came back with force. Stevenson scored the first goal of the afternoon less than five minutes into the game and maintained its 1-0 lead for nearly 10 minutes before Frenkel scored his first goal of the game in power play assisted by Jakub Viedemann. The first period ended in a 1-1 draw.

Hungry to take the lead, the Monarchs earned their second goal just over a minute into the second period when Frenkel scored his second goal in power play yet again this time assisted by Denys Arkhypenko and Shota Kaneko. Both teams went head-to-head offensively for the remainder of the period, but neither found the back of the net. King's left the second period with a 2-1 over Stevenson. 

It was the Mustangs turn to score early on in the period as they scored their second goal of the day within 1:35 of the puck drop in the third period to tie things up 2-2. Stevenson then took the lead again just three minutes later, however it only held on to the lead briefly when Hersant scored his second penalty shot goal of the season at the 8:29 minute mark and tied the game back up 3-3. Krawczyk earned the game winning goal for the Monarchs exactly 30 seconds later and was assisted by Jayden Baldinelli and Michael Harrel Jr. Lee added a fifth goal for King's just two minutes and 20 seconds later in power play with assists by Frenkel and Viedemann. The Monarchs secured their thrilling and important win with a final score of 5-3 over Stevenson.

Teodor Vaage led King's on the defensive end of the rink with three blocks and was followed with one block each from six other Monarchs. MAC Defensive Player of the Week Matt Bidini beat his season-best saves from the week prior tonight with 44 saves in goal for a .936 save-percentage.

The Monarchs are on the road again this weekend as they take on the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons at Alumni Arena on Saturday Jan. 13 at 7 pm.