King’s men’s soccer team has figured out how to win in the postseason. Point, blank, simple.
The Monarchs advanced to the Freedom Conference title game for the second consecutive season and fourth trip to the conference title game under Coach Mark Bassett. The Bassett-led Monarchs are in their third consecutive postseason to boot.
Bassett attributes the Monarchs success to the experience of the team, a senior-laden squad with eight fourth-year athletes and six upperclassmen on the All-Freedom Conference Team.
“We are experienced,” Bassett said. “I think that’s the great thing. We are in a situation that we are familiar with.”
The Monarchs main contributors are in the junior and senior class. Senior Niall Croke is the leader of this team, contributing a team-high 24 points on 11 goals and two assists.
Croke’s diving header in the 75th minute on Tuesday was the go-ahead goal for the Monarchs before senior David Stroh added an insurance strike.
“It feels great this is what we were working for,” Croke said about returning to the conference finals.
Of his eleven goals, none were bigger than his header earlier this week which he attributed to the passing of junior teammate Chris Nygren, who had 2 assists on Tuesday and is leading the team in the assists column.
“Chris had what about ten assists this game?” Croke said with a chuckle after.
Nygren has been spectacular all season as he has been instant offense for King’s by both scoring or setting up his teammates. Nygren and Croke, joined with senior Brian Alifano and junior Danny Hernandez were huge contributors to last year’s championship squad.
Hernandez, who plays forward, has been brilliant at the top of the Monarchs’ formation. He puts the ball past the keeper and he sets up his teammates for chances to get it in goal.
Alifano, a defender, mans the middle of the field for the Monarchs. He serves as a co-captain along with Croke. The duo also share the duties as the team’s field general. His ability to make snap decisions of how to play defense have been vital for the Monarchs all year.
“A lot of experience being in these big games really paid off,” Bassett said of his team’s resilience.
When the Monarchs take the field Saturday in St. David’s, Pa, against Eastern, experience will be on their side and that will go a long way toward determing the Freedom’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Donny Hopkins covers King’s sports for WRKC Digital, follow him on Twitter @HopkinsDonny or email him at DonaldHopkins@Kings.edu