SELINSGROVE, PA (September 23, 2025)— Four unanswered second half goals proved to be the difference for the King's College men's soccer team as they dropped a non-conference matchup with Susquehanna on Tuesday night by a score of 4-3. With the result, the Monarchs fall to 2-3-3 in 2025 while the River Hawks move to 4-4 on the season.

The Monarchs struck first in the 14^th minute as Mark Atherton found a seam in the Susquehanna backline. Atherton sent a low running cross from left to right that Costantino Villano drilled into the bottom right corner to put King's up 1-0. The goal for Villano marks the first of his collegiate career.

King's wasted no time putting the pressure on the River Hawks, finding the back of the net in the 19^th to double their first half lead. A quick defensive counter led to Philip Permyashkin getting fouled just outside the '18. His free kick bent around the Susquehanna wall and past the diving keeper to give the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Ben Van Valkenburg collected a pair of saves in the first half, including a miraculous leaping save in the 22^nd on a one-timer coming off a volleyed throw in.

The opening two minutes of the second half saw a scoring frenzy as three goals were scored between the two teams—one by King's and two from Susquehanna. Just 36 seconds into the second, a Permyashkin cross deflected off the head of Atherton into perfect position for Jackson Nuttall to head in his first goal of the season and put the Monarchs ahead by three.

Susquehanna answered right back, netting two goals in the ensuing 1:13 to cut the King's lead to 3-2.

In the 65^th, the River Hawks found the equalizer on a shot from the top of the box through a sea of players into the bottom right corner of the net to tie the game at three apiece.

At 85:00, Susquehanna took their first lead of the night,4-3, on an off-balance shot past a diving Van Valkenburg that found top left.

The Monarchs pushed for scoring opportunities in the final five minutes, taking a corner and two free kicks but were unable to knot the game at four as Susquehanna held on for the 4-3 victory.

Permyashkin led the Monarchs offensively on the evening with three points on a goal and an assist. Villano and Nuttal each had two points with their goals while Atherton picked up a point with his assist.

King's men's soccer returns to McCarthy Stadium on Saturday, September 27 as the Monarchs take on Hood College with kickoff set for 5:00 PM.