WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 27, 2024) -- The King's College field hockey team went ahead, 2-0, heading into the half, but Penn State Harrisburg rallied to send the game into double overtime before scoring in the 73^rd minute as the Monarchs fell, 3-2, in double overtime. With the heartbreaking set back at McCarthy Stadium on Friday afternoon, the Monarchs fall to 2-6 overall, while the Nittany Lions improve to 6-2.
 
Penn State Harrisburg (6-2) took the early momentum, firing off three early shots, but it was the Monarchs to score first as Emma Clark sent a ball across the cage for Abby Varzaly to tip it in and put King's (2-6) ahead, 1-0, with 2:25 to go in the first. Each team had a look at a score before wrapping up the opening period.
 
It did not take long for the Monarchs to build on their lead as Rowan Murray dribbled the ball into the circle and lofted it over the Nittany Lions goalkeeper just 1:01 into the second as King's led, 2-0. The pace of play slowed over the next stretch before Penn State Harrisburg had a strong push to end the half, recording five shots, but Emily Bollinger made two saves and Katey Shoemaker added a defensive save to maintain their 2-0 edge heading into halftime.
 
The visitors made their move, scoring in the 39^th minute, but King's continued their attack as the game entered the final 15 minutes of regulation with the Monarchs up, 2-1.
 
The Monarchs defense held off the pestering Nittany Lions attack, but with exactly six minutes remaining, Penn State Harrisburg found their equalizer off a penalty corner. King's had one final look at a deciding score, but Murray's shot was deflected and the game was forced into overtime tied, 2-2.
 
The Nittany Lions had the advantage for much of the first overtime, but Bollinger and the King's defense remained steady, thwarting three shots out of a pair of penalty corners, as the Friday night match up entered the second overtime period still knotted at 2-2.
 
King's had some great opportunities on some early breakaways, but their foes managed to stop the attack. It was 3:19 into the second extra period that Penn State Harrisburg's Sarah Gibbons sent a ball past the Monarch midfielders to provide the one-on-one opportunity for Natalie Rocuskie to put the ball into the back of the cage and hand King's the heartbreaking 3-2 double overtime loss at McCarthy Stadium.
 
Murray scored on a team-best three shots, while Varzaly and Clark also picked up points in the setback. Bollinger had another strong outing, making five saves in the cage.
 
Rocuskie scored two goals off a game-high 12 shots in the win, while Gibbons had a goal and an assist. Macenzie Mulholland picked up the win, totaling three saves in the cage.
 
The Monarchs will look to bounce back on Tuesday evening as they travel to Lycoming College for a non-conference match up. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at UPMC Field at Keiper Stadium.