WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 4, 2024) -- After scoring the first goal of the game, the King's College field hockey team gave up three unanswered goals as they dropped their 2024 season opener, 3-1, to the visiting Cedar Crest College. In the non-conference match up at McCarthy Stadium, the Monarchs fall to 0-1 overall, while the Falcons pick up their first win and improve to 1-2.
 
Both teams traded a shot in the opening 2:33 of action before King's (0-1) went on a tear, earning six penalty corners resulting in five shots over the next 8:34. The Monarchs found the back of the cage as junior Emma Bealla set up a pass to sophomore Allie Chocallo who fired the ball into the circle for Bealla to knock it in and put King's up, 1-0, with 3:53 to go in the opening quarter.
 
Cedar Crest (1-2) gained some momentum, recording three of their own penalty corners with the final opportunity resulting in a goal from Sydney Jeker with 1:05 to play in the first. King's had a few good looks in the final moments of the frame before heading into the first break tied, 1-1.
 
It was an evenly contested start to the second before the Falcons committed a foul in front of the cage to give King's a penalty stroke with 5:26 left in the half, but the Cedar Crest goalie made a great play on the ball to maintain the stalemate. The Falcons then took advantage of the shift and notched their second tally with 2:10 remaining to head into the halftime break ahead, 2-1, over the Monarchs.
 
King's controlled the pace for much of the third, out shooting Cedar Crest, 6-0, with a 4-0 edge in corners, but they could not capitalize as the game entered the final 15 minutes with the visitors leading, 2-1.
 
Despite a great early look at a score from senior Emma Clark just 1:55 into the fourth, the Falcons managed to tack on an insurance goal with 9:34 to play. The Monarchs pushed the pace and had the advantage in the shot column, 3-2, and all four corners down the stretch, but their efforts fell short as King's lost, 3-1, in the match up at McCarthy Stadium.
 
Clark paced the offense with six shots, including five on goal, while sophomore Shaylee Heffron matched her six-shot effort with her own four on frame. Bealla netted her score on her lone shot of the evening, while Chocallo picked up a point on the assist. Sophomore Davina Krappa recorded a defensive save, and sophomore Emily Bollinger posted four saves in the cage for the Monarchs.
 
Three different Falcons scored in the win, while Olivia Wanner led the team with five shots with four on goal. Reagan Ferst picked up a defensive save, and Shelby Heater posted 12 saves in the complete-game effort.
 
As a team, the Monarchs dominated the shot column, 24-12, over the Falcons while holding a 19-7 edge in corners.
 
King's is back at McCarthy Stadium on Saturday afternoon as part of their three-game home stand to begin the season. The Monarchs are set to host Immaculata University at 12:00 p.m.