CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's soccer team clenched the number two seed in the Conference Carolinas Tournament with a 6-0 win this afternoon over Barton College. The Royals Senior Day victory gives them a conference record of 8-2 and an overall record of 9-7 heading in to the play-offs. The Bulldogs end their season with today's loss with an overall record of 2-13 (1-9 CC).
Head Coach Katie Talbert started all of her seniors in today's game which celebrated their careers at Queens. The seniors recognized were Michelle Landry (Atlanta, Ga., Druid Hills ), Kelsey Howard (Marietta, Ga., Dominion Christian), Sami Striano (Clearwater, Fla., Countryside ), Rose Balderson (Trappe, Md., Saints Peter and Paul ), and Larissa Tomasulo (Sidney, Ohio, Lehman Catholic ).
Queens dominated play from the first whistle to the last in the conference match-up with the Bulldogs holding them scoreless in the 90 minute game.
Balderson was the first to score almost eight minutes into play. Brooke Foil (Knightdale, N.C., Knightdale) re-collected a shot and found Balderson in the box for goal number one.
Hope Hartman (Lillington, N.C., Homeschool) would be the next Royal to find the back of the net in the 32nd minute when she booted a ball from the left wing into the net. Howard was awarded the assist on the play. Hartman then followed her goal up with an assist to Kristen Wright (Salisbury, Md., Parkside). Hartman got behind the Bulldogs' defense to chase down a ball volleyed by Katherine Carr (Upper Marlboro, Md. , St. Mary's ). She then found Wright on the left side who snuck the ball past Barton's keeper for the 3-0 lead.
The final goal of the half was scored by Sarah Johnson (West Columbia, S.C., Brookland-Cayce) in the 43rd minute. Foil dropped a ball off to Johnson just outside the top of 18-yard box where she floated a beautiful ball over Barton's keeper for the 4-0 halftime score.
Foil completed her day with four points after adding a goal ten minutes in to the second half to her two assists. Foil fired a ball from inside the 18-yard box for the goal.
Johnson also collected four points with two goals in today's win. Her second goal was the final one of the game in the 77th minute. Defender Jennifer Swanstrom (Houston, Texas, Cypress Falls) pushed the ball up the field to deliver a cross to Johnson on the right side. Johnson kicked the ball in for the sixth Royals goal of the game.
The Royals outshot the Bulldogs 15-8 and won four corner kicks to Barton's zero. Megan Hirschy collected four saves while Landry tallied one.
Barton keeper Sarah Moore stopped four balls.
Queens will play host to Erskine College on Monday night at 7:00 p.m., in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
