CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's soccer team lost to Wingate University this evening in a fight to the finish. Wingate, ranked fifth in the Southeast Region, snuck past the Royals winning 3-2 on a put-back after a penalty kick. The Royals fall to 4-9 overall and remain 3-5 in Conference Carolinas after playing tonight's SAC opponent.

The Bulldogs seemed to be on top leading the Royals 2-0 at 53:55 after Piero Riva scored his second goal of the game with a header that crept by Queens' keeper Giancarlo Aristondo (Charlotte, N.C., South Mecklenburg). Jack Vundum was awarded the assist on the play.

Riva's first goal was the lone first half goal 12 minutes into play. Luke Mulholland fed a sprinting Riva the ball on the right side, and he put it away giving Wingate a 1-0 early game lead.

The Royals would respond with a penalty kick in the 57th minute. Jeremy Chambers (Princeton, W.Va., Princeton Senior) dribbled into the box and was fouled presenting a scoring opportunity for the Royals. Justin Ferguson (Denver, Colo., Cherry Creek) stepped up to the plate firing the ball past Bulldogs' keeper Joey Calandra making the score 2-1.
 
Queens was still in attack mode as Chambers booted a ball into the net in the 68th minute. Aristondo punted the ball into play which Chambers won. Chambers got behind the Bulldogs' defense and sliced the ball into the net for the 2-2 tie.

Not 20 seconds later, Mulholland went down in the box and a foul was called giving Wingate a penalty kick. Jack Vundum took the shot which Aristondo skillfully saved. Gui Lima snuck in to rebound the save and score the game-winning-goal.

Queens took seven shots to Wingate's 16. Wingate won the battle for corner kicks five-to-four. Queens and Wingate were whistled for a combined 29 fouls.

Aristondo finished the game with five saves, while Wingate's Calandra tallied one.

The Royals are back in action at home on Saturday against UNC-Pembroke at 7:30 p.m.