WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 22, 2025) -- The King's College field hockey team returned to McCarthy Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, dropping a 3-1 decision to Delaware Valley University in MAC Freedom action. The Monarchs moved to 1-14 overall and 0-4 in conference, while the Aggies improved to 7-7 on the season and evened their MAC Freedom record at 2-2.

King's opened the game with a strong defensive effort, limiting Delaware Valley's looks early on. Emily Bollinger made three key saves in the first quarter to keep the Aggies off the board, while the King's backline stood firm and kept the ball away from the cage for much of the period.

After shutting down three Del Val scoring chances off of penalty corners, the Aggies struck first off a set play on their fourth corner opportunity of the frame to take a 1-0 lead at 12:52.

The Monarch defensive unit continued to battle inside the shooting circle, blocking two Delaware Valley shots within the first four minutes of the second frame. The visitors doubled their advantage midway through the second quarter, sending the Aggies into halftime up 2-0.

The third quarter saw an offensive surge from the Monarchs. King's outshot Del Val 9-1 in the period and earned six penalty corners, using sustained pressure to force the Aggies to defend for long stretches. Melanie Tlatenchi and Davina Krappa both registered a pair of shots in the third, while Reagan Joiner got in on the action with a shot of her own.

Despite generating sizable momentum, Delaware Valley managed to tack on another goal at 41:45 to take a 3-0 lead.

Less than three minutes after the third goal, Shaylee Heffron cut the deficit back to two with her first goal of the season. After a King's penalty corner, the Monarchs moved the ball around the edge of the circle before sending a centering pass through traffic that found Heffron's stick. Her initial attempt was turned aside, but she quickly tucked her own rebound into the cage at 43:26 to put King's on the board, trailing 3-1.

Bollinger turned aside both of the shots she faced in the final frame, however the Monarchs couldn't notch the two goals necessary to force overtime as Delaware Valley took the contest by a score of 3-1.

Bollinger made seven saves in goal, while Tlatenchi and Joiner both recorded a shot on goal for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs remain at home on Saturday, welcoming DeSales University to McCarthy Stadium for a MAC Freedom battle at 1:00 p.m.