CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Kelly Wrightson (Germantown, Md., Damascus ) led the Royals with four goals in their first loss of the season, 13-12, to Saint Andrews Presbyterian College in a wet and cold afternoon at the Queens University of Charlotte Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park.
What started off as a runaway game, turned into a goal-for-goal battle between the women's lacrosse teams from Queens and Saint Andrews. Queens jumped out to a 5-1 lead 10 minutes into play.
The visitors countered, scoring four unanswered goals to end the half and tied the game at five-all.
Kerrie Brown, who scored five for SAPC, added one more to the total to give the Knights their first lead of the day, 6-5.
The Royals answered back with two, one from Wrightson and one from Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ) to take the lead back, 7-6.
The two Conference Carolinas teams traded goals again and just under the midway point Saint Andrews led 9-8.
Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ) tied it up at 10 and Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll) gave the Royals the 11-10 lead with 5:43 to play. The Knights tied it again, but Alyssa Hughes (Damascus, Md. , Damascus ) scored an unassisted goal to give Queens the advantage with just under five minutes left.
Kelsey Binggeli scored the game-winner on a free position shot in the last 1:42 of the game, after Cara Manas scored the tying goal two minutes earlier.
The Royals weren't able to force a turnover in the last minute 42 to have a chance to tie the game and force overtime.
Queens led in shots, 29-25, and ground ball pickups, 21-13, but the Knights held the advantage in draw controls, 17-9. In free position shots, Queens connected on 3-8 and SAPC converted on 5-8.
Wrights was scored her four goals from just five shots. Duffey scored once, but assisted five goals for Queens. Goalie Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) made 11 saves in the contest.
Brown was the Knights high scorer with five and she all tallied two assists. Binggeli contributed four goals. Eryn McCaffrey made eight saves.
Queens will host Pfeiffer on March 5 at 6pm.
