WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 25, 2024) -- It was a battle to start in the non-conference match up on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, After holding the visiting Susquehanna University scoreless in the first, the King's College field hockey team fought to the finish in a 5-1 setback at McCarthy Stadium. The Monarchs fall to 2-5 overall, while the River Hawks improve to 4-2.
 
King's (2-5) had the first opportunity of the game on a penalty corner and shot from Davina Krappa four minutes in, but the momentum shifted in favor of the River Hawks down the stretch. Goalkeeper Emily Bollinger with her six saves and a strong defensive stance helped keep the game scoreless, 0-0, at the end of the opening frame.
 
Just 52 seconds into the second, Susquehanna (4-2) struck first out of a corner piece. The pace of play slowed before the River Hawks tacked on another goal with 6:14 remaining in the half. The defense remained sturdy, and the offense got a great look at a score in the final eight ticks, but the penalty corner was stopped by the Susquehanna defense as King's faced a 2-0 deficit at the break.
 
The Monarchs found their stride as Emma Clark pushed the pace and sent a ball into the box. It ricocheted off some River Hawk sticks and found Rowan Murray who spun and sent the ball into the back of the cage to close King's within a score, 2-1, 3:30 into the third.
 
The River Hawks responded, rattling off a pair of scores in a two-minute span in the third before recording their final tally with 4:20 left as King's dropped the 5-1 decision on Wednesday at McCarthy Stadium.
 
Murray scored her third goal of the season off her lone shot, while Bollinger had six saves in the first half of play.
 
Five different River Hawks scored in the win, while Kari Schmidt had a pair of assists and three shots. Ashley Derrick picked up the win, making one save through the first three quarters.
 
The Monarchs earned three penalty corners in the set back and put all but one shot on target.
 
King's returns to McCarthy Stadium on Friday as part of Homecoming and Family and Friends Weekend on campus. The Monarchs will host Penn State Harrisburg at 4:00 p.m.