WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 4, 2025) – The King's College women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 setback to Stevens Institute of Technology in the team's conference opener on Youth Soccer Night, Saturday evening at McCarthy Stadium. The loss moved the Monarchs to 3-7-1, while Stevens improved to 3-2-6.
 
Goalkeeper Courtney Monard was tested early in her 11th consecutive start, snagging a low shot from long-range in the 18th minute of action.
 
Monard turned aside another shot in the 26th minute when a Stevens attacker slipped by the defense and fired a no-angle shot from the right of the goal that was easily scooped up by the Monarchs' keeper.
 
King's utilized a quick transition downfield to put the ball on Madison Jellema's boot. The sophomore defender powered past a Ducks defender and sent a shot towards the upper right corner of the net for the Monarchs' first shot of the evening at the 27:38 mark.
 
The King's goalkeeper remained perfect in the first half, making her third save of the period on a mid-range shot from inside the box in the 31st minute of action.
 
 
The Monarchs' best scoring opportunity of the half came in the middle of the 38th minute when a free kick from the far side of the field sailed over a slew of defenders and resulted in back-to-back shots by Victoria Hannah and Jessica Juarez. The Ducks were able to stifle the attack and both teams headed into halftime still in search of the opening goal.
 
Stevens led the first-half stats with eight shots to the Monarchs' three. The Ducks were awarded four corner kicks while committing six fouls. The King's goalkeeper was perfect through 45 minutes, making saves on all three shots she faced.
 
Following a deadlocked opening to the second half, the Ducks turned up the offensive pressure. The visitors sent six shots towards goal, two of which were kept out of the goal by Monard.
 
The Ducks finally notched the go-ahead and ultimate game-winning goal in the 77th minute on a well-placed cross that deflected into open space and was buried by an attacker. The opening goal gave Stevens a 1-0 advantage at the 76:57 mark.
 
After another surge of attacking momentum from the Ducks in which the guests rattled off four more off-target shots, King's made a late bid in desperate search for an equalizer.
 
Mackenzie Seeley sent an arcing strike from outside the box that rang the right post before careening back into play. Hanna Victoria attempted to pot the rebound for a goal, but was met by the Stevens goalkeeper who kept the ball out of her net as the Ducks hung on through the final minutes for a 1-0 victory over King's.
 
Jellema recorded the Monarchs' lone shot on goal while Monard registered six saves between the sticks, split evenly between the first and second halves.
 
The Monarchs return to the pitch on Wednesday, October 8, as they travel to Rutgers-Newark for a 7:00 PM showdown with the Scarlet Raiders.
 
– MONARCHS –