CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens women's soccer team gave Tusculum College a run for their money this evening at the Queens University of Charlotte Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park. The Royals (9-8-2 overall/9-0-1 Conference Carolinas) fell 4-0 to the visiting Pioneers (10-7-1 overall/4-3-0 South Atlantic Conference).
The loss is the first for the Royals since Oct. 12 when they fell to Columbus State.
Danielle Tanner put Tusculum on the board early by beating Queens goalie Kristen Kornacki (Glen Allen, Va., Deep Run ). Kornacki came off of her line, but was unable to hold onto the ball for the save.
The Royals battled back taking five shots in the next 20 minutes. Tusculum, regionally ranked No. 9, scored on their fourth shot in the next 20 to take a 2-0 lead.
With three minutes left before the break Sami Striano (Clearwater, Fla., Countryside )looked like she had a Queens goal as she slid into a loose ball at the top of the six with goalie Megan Kurtz. Striano was able to poke the ball past Kurtz towards the goal, but the ball trickled over the endline just to the left of the net.
Megan McCarrell (Oviedo, Fla., Oviedo )used a fantastic feed from Rose Balderson (Trappe, Md., Saints Peter and Paul )to pound a shot right on goal. Kurtz had to react quickly and pushed the ball over the top of the net with just 50 seconds left before the half.
At the break, Queens was just two shots shy of Tusculum's 11 and was 2-1 on corner kicks.
In the second half Tusculum's Danielle Tanner scored in the 56th minute and Patience Leonard scored the final goal in the 81st minute of play.
Queens managed offense was limited in the second half. The Royals were able to take two shots and did not earn a corner. Tusculum managed 19 shots and five corners in the half.
Striano and Kathryn Sylvester (Raleigh, N.C., Apex )each took had the Royals high three shots in the game. Kelly Barron recorded the game and Tusculum high 12 shots. Kornacki made eight saves while Kurtz made five.
Queens closes out the regular season with a road contest at Mount Olive College on Nov. 1. The Conference Carolinas tournament will start on Nov. 3.
